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Abdominal and pelvic coccidioidomycosis
Geoffrey Smith1, Susan Hoover, Richard Sobonya
1Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|February 4, 2011
Summary
Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal infection from the Southwestern US, can mimic pneumonia. This study highlights rare abdominal cases, emphasizing pathology
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to the Southwestern United States.
- It typically presents as community-acquired pneumonia after inhaling arthroconidia.
- Dissemination can occur to various organ systems from the primary pulmonary site.
Observation:
- Abdominal and pelvic involvement by Coccidioidomycosis is rare.
- The study reviews the spectrum of abdominal and pelvic presentations.
- Six unusual cases are reported, including appendicitis, hepatitis, and adnexal masses.
Findings:
- Pathologists are crucial for diagnosing these rare presentations.
- Diagnosis relies on recognizing characteristic fungal spherules in tissue samples.
- Coccidioides species were cultured in only two of the reported cases.
Implications:
- This highlights the importance of considering Coccidioidomycosis in endemic areas, even with atypical presentations.
- Pathological identification of spherules is key for timely diagnosis.
- Increased awareness can improve patient outcomes for disseminated fungal infections.
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