What is Myospherulosis?
Myospherulosis is a rare, non-cancerous (benign) condition in which unusual round structures called "spherules" form inside body tissues. These spherules are actually altered red blood cells that have been changed by contact with certain oily or fatty substances, such as petroleum-based ointments or lipid-containing materials used during surgery. The condition was first described in the 1960s and was initially thought to be caused by a fungal infection, but it is now understood to be a foreign body reaction — the body's response to these altered blood cells trapped in tissue. Myospherulosis most commonly occurs after surgery or trauma, particularly in areas where petroleum-based products (like antibiotic ointments containing petrolatum) have been applied to surgical wounds or nasal packing. It is frequently found in the nasal sinuses, but can also appear in other parts of the body including muscles, skin, bones, and joints. Patients may notice a painless or mildly tender lump or mass at or near a previous surgical site. Some people have no symptoms at all, and the condition is discovered incidentally during surgery or biopsy for another reason. Treatment typically involves surgical removal of the affected tissue if the mass is causing symptoms or diagnostic uncertainty. Once removed, the condition does not usually come back. The prognosis is excellent because myospherulosis is not a cancer and does not spread to other parts of the body. The main challenge is making the correct diagnosis, since under the microscope it can be confused with fungal infections or other conditions.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Painless lump or mass near a previous surgical siteMild tenderness or discomfort at the affected areaNasal congestion or blockage if located in the sinusesSwelling in the affected areaFeeling of fullness in the nose or sinusesHeadache if sinuses are involvedNo symptoms at all (found incidentally)
- Inheritance
- Sporadic
- Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
- Age of Onset
- Adult
- Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
Treatments
Source: openFDA + DailyMed · NDA / BLA labels with structured indications · refreshed weekly
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Myospherulosis.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced daily · phases, status, and PI names normalized at ingest
No actively recruiting trials found for Myospherulosis at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Specialists
View all specialists →Source: NPI Registry + PubMed · trial PI roles cross-referenced with ClinicalTrials.gov · ranked by match score (publications + PI activity + community signal)
No specialists are currently listed for Myospherulosis.
Treatment Centers
8 centersSource: NORD Rare Disease Centers + NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) · centers verified active within last 12 months
Children's Hospital Colorado Rare Disease Program ↗
Children's Hospital Colorado
📍 Aurora, CO
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDBoston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program ↗
Boston Children's Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🏨 Children'sAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital Genetics ↗
Lurie Children's Hospital
📍 Chicago, IL
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ↗
Cincinnati Children's
📍 Cincinnati, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏨 Children'sNationwide Children's Hospital Rare Disease Center ↗
Nationwide Children's Hospital
📍 Columbus, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Myospherulosis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Myospherulosis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Myospherulosis
Source: PubMed + NIH RePORTER + openFDA + clinical-journal RSS · last 30 days · disease-tagged at ingest by AI extraction with human QC
No recent news articles for Myospherulosis.
Follow this condition to be notified when news becomes available.
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Could this mass be related to a previous surgery or the use of petroleum-based ointments?,How can you be sure this is myospherulosis and not a fungal infection or cancer?,Will I need surgery to remove it, or can it be monitored?,What is the chance that this will come back after removal?,Should I avoid certain types of ointments or wound care products in the future?,Are there any follow-up tests or imaging I will need after treatment?
Common questions about Myospherulosis
What is Myospherulosis?
Myospherulosis is a rare, non-cancerous (benign) condition in which unusual round structures called "spherules" form inside body tissues. These spherules are actually altered red blood cells that have been changed by contact with certain oily or fatty substances, such as petroleum-based ointments or lipid-containing materials used during surgery. The condition was first described in the 1960s and was initially thought to be caused by a fungal infection, but it is now understood to be a foreign body reaction — the body's response to these altered blood cells trapped in tissue. Myospherulosis m
How is Myospherulosis inherited?
Myospherulosis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Myospherulosis typically begin?
Typical onset of Myospherulosis is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Frequently asked questions about Myospherulosis
Auto-generated from canonical disease facts (Orphanet, OMIM, ClinicalTrials.gov, openFDA, NPPES). Not a substitute for clinical guidance.
What is Myospherulosis?
Myospherulosis is a rare disease catalogued in international rare-disease ontologies (Orphanet ORPHA:306553). It is typically inherited as sporadic. Age of onset is generally adult. For verified primary sources, see the UniteRare Myospherulosis page.
How is Myospherulosis inherited?
Myospherulosis follows sporadic inheritance. Genetic counseling is recommended for affected families to understand recurrence risk in offspring and the likelihood of unaffected siblings being carriers. Variants in the underlying gene(s) may be identified via clinical genetic testing.
Are there FDA-approved treatments for Myospherulosis?
Approved treatments for Myospherulosis are tracked from openFDA and DailyMed primary sources. Many rare diseases have no specific FDA-approved therapy; for those, supportive care and management of complications form the basis of clinical care. Orphan-drug-designation status is noted where applicable.
Are there clinical trials for Myospherulosis?
Active clinical trials for Myospherulosis are tracked daily from ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial availability changes frequently; check the UniteRare trial listings for the current count and recruitment status. Sponsors of rare-disease research often welcome inquiries even when a trial is not actively recruiting at a given moment.
How do I find a specialist for Myospherulosis?
Verified Myospherulosis specialists are identified through ClinicalTrials.gov principal-investigator records, peer-reviewed publication authorship (via PubMed), and the NPPES NPI registry. NORD-designated Centers of Excellence and NIH-affiliated rare-disease clinics are also tracked. UniteRare's specialist directory is updated continuously as new evidence becomes available.
See full Myospherulosis page for complete clinical details, sources, and verified-specialist listings.
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