SPOROTRICHOSIS : UNMASKING THE CANCER MIMIC
The fungus Sporothrix species causes sporotrichosis, a fungal infection whose symptoms are frequently confused with cancerous ones, making accurate diagnosis extremely difficult. In the USA, a 66-year-old male patient with a variety of symptoms, such as skin darkening, black urine, an elevated white blood cell count, low hemoglobin, and low platelets, served as an example of this diagnostic difficulties. The original diagnosis of cancer or invasive infections was made by doctors due to these symptoms. Still, sporotrichosis was eventually established by a positive result from a Sporothrix schenckii latex agglutination test. The important problem of misdiagnosis is brought to light by this case, specifically the way sporotrichosis can be misdiagnosed as malignancies like cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). To prevent ineffective therapies that could harm patients, accurate diagnosis is essential.
The subject of epigenetics, which is the study of heritable variations in gene expression without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, is rapidly expanding and has not yet been thoroughly investigated in relation to sporotrichosis. Little is known about epigenetics' involvement in sporotrichosis, despite notable advancements in the field across a number of disorders. 6,090 non-coding RNAs were found by RNA sequencing methods used in recent research to investigate the global transcriptome changes between the mold and yeast phases of Sporothrix schenckii. These non-coding RNAs might be essential in controlling how the pathogen multiplies and interacts with the host's defenses. Additional investigation into these epigenetic variables may provide fresh perspectives on the etiology of sporotrichosis and inspire novel therapeutic tacks.
Although sporotrichosis usually affects the skin, it can also affect other organs, making diagnosis difficult. The link between this fungal infection and cancer, specifically cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), is cause for serious concern. There is evidence that sporotrichosis may be associated with an increased risk of skin cancer; therefore, more research is needed to completely understand this association and investigate appropriate preventive measures. The widespread misinterpretation of sporotrichosis as cancer highlights the need for more accurate diagnostic instruments and more knowledge among medical professionals. In cases of sporotrichosis that show with symptoms similar to cancer, it might be able to improve patient outcomes and lower the risk of incorrect treatments by increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis.
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https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2018/02/how-does-cancer-do-that-sizing-up-cells-and-their-shapes
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