[Bilateral Torulopsis glabrata pneumonia]

In a 48-year old male patient hospitalized for evaluation of fatigue with non-productive cough and dyspnoea, standard radiography and computerized tomography of the chest showed nodular opacities in both lung apices. Examination of intrabronchial specimens revealed mycelial filaments, and Torulopsis glabrata grew in culture. Under antifungal treatment the clinical signs rapidly improved and the radiological abnormalities disappeared more slowly, which confirmed the diagnosis of T. glabrata pneumonia. The authors recall the pathogenic role of this yeast-like fungus, closely related to Candida albicans, which mainly causes severe opportunistic infections. The diagnostic criteria, the part played by immunodepression in the disease and the therapeutic problems encountered are also discussed.