Blastomycosis and Histoplasmosis in a Patient with Glioblastoma Receiving Temozolomide

Malignant glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most common primary malignancy of the brain in the U.S. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the cornerstone of management along with surgical resection and radiotherapy. Because of the reduction in the CD4+ lymphocyte count as a side effect of TMZ use, this patient population is under risk for opportunistic infections like Pneumocystis jiroveci. A male patient with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiform presented with non-productive cough and chest pain. Before presentation, the patient received the standard therapy including surgical resection, radiation and TMZ. Computerized tomography of the chest showed a very large cavitary lesion in the upper segment of the right lower lobe and multiple nodular lesions with some starting to cavitate. Cytology of the bronchioalveolar lavage with special stain showed large, broad based budding yeast-like cells, morphologically consistent with blastomyces and macrophages filled with yeast-like forms, morphologically consistent with histoplasma. The patient was treated with intraconazole intended for 12 months. To the best of our knowledge, our case represents the first documented case of lung infection with both blastomyces and histoplasma in a patient after receiving TMZ for newly diagnosed GBM.