Trichosporon beigelii pneumonitis following busulphan-induced leucopenia

We present a 41 yr old male, who died of respiratory failure due to infiltration of Trichosporon beigelii (cutaneum) into the pulmonary interstitial spaces with systemic dissemination. Busulphan-induced leucopenia in the chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukaemia had progressed before this infection developed. In leukaemic patients with profound leucopenia, interstitial pneumonitis due to T. beigelii should be considered as a possible cause of otherwise unexplained hypoxaemia.