Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis that formed a fungus ball with 8-years duration

Intern Med. 2005 Feb;44(2):141-4. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.44.141.

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis, caused by inhaling Coccidioides immitis, is a mycosis imported from endemic regions including the southwestern United States. C. immitis is so virulent that even a short-term stay in the endemic area can provide a chance for infection. Here, we report a 33-year-old Japanese man with formation of a fungus ball inside the pulmonary cavity secondary to coccidioidomycosis with a duration of 8 years, which is considered rare. He was infected with C. immitis in the United States in 1996. A nodule remained in the lung, which later cavitated with fungus ball formation. We identified Coccidioides immitis in the cultured specimen from the cavity and serum antibodies against it. We performed a lobectomy in 2003 since anti-fungal treatment was only temporarily effective. He is still free of disease 6 months later.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Fungal / analysis
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Coccidioides / immunology
  • Coccidioides / isolation & purification
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis / microbiology*
  • Coccidioidomycosis / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / therapy
  • Male
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antifungal Agents