Conjunctival Polyp Caused by Rhinosporidium See Beri

Rhinosporidiosis is a localized disease of mucous membranes, principally found on the mucous membranes of nasal passages. I t has also been described as occurring in the mucous membranes of the eye and other parts of the body.'8 The disease is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, which has the morphologic characteristics of a fungus,' but so far neither culture nor transfer of the fungus from human tissue to cold-blooded or warm-blooded animals has been possible. The description of its life cycle is therefore based on the morphologic appearance of various stages in tissue sections stained with either hematoxylin and eosin or periodic acid-Schiff. The following case is presented because of the rare occurrence of this disease in the United States.