[Imported pulmonary coccidiodomycosis apropos of an anatomo-clinical study]

The case is reported of a 41-year-old Arizona woman who, during a European tour, consulted a Lausanne (Switzerland) physician to whom she reported poor general health and, in particular, localized pains in the right thorax. Although the clinical condition appeared normal, radiology of the thorax revealed a round, hollow shadow in the right lung. Since tuberculosis seemed the most likely diagnosis, the patient underwent antibacillary treatment. Three months later the lesion appeared to have increased in volume, and exploratory thoracotomy was performed with removal of the inferior lobe of the right lung. In the pulmonary parenchyma three greyish, well-defined nodules were found. Exhaustive research disclosed the fungal nature of these lesions through the demonstration of parasitic elements typical of Coccidioides immitis.