Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to the Southwestern United States that has a clinical presentation resembling community-acquired pneumonia. Disease occurs after inhalation of airborne arthroconidia. Dissemination to a variety of organ systems via hematogenous spread from a primary pulmonary focus may then occur. Coccidioidomycosis rarely involves the abdominal cavity. The authors review the spectrum of abdominal and pelvic presentations of coccidioidomycosis and report 6 unusual cases, including acute appendicitis, hepatitis and adnexal masses. Pathologists played a critical role in the diagnosis of these presentations by recognizing spherules in tissue. In only 2 of the cases were Coccidioides species cultured.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 308-311 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | American Journal of the Medical Sciences |
Volume | 341 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2011 |
Keywords
- Appendicitis
- Coccidioides
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Hepatitis
- Pelvic tumors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine