Abdominal and pelvic coccidioidomycosis

Am J Med Sci. 2011 Apr;341(4):308-11. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3182058736.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / microbiology*
  • Adnexal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Adnexal Diseases / microbiology
  • Adnexal Diseases / pathology
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Appendicitis / diagnosis
  • Appendicitis / microbiology
  • Appendicitis / pathology
  • Child
  • Coccidioides / isolation & purification*
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis / microbiology
  • Hepatitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pelvis / microbiology*
  • Peritoneal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peritoneal Diseases / microbiology
  • Peritoneal Diseases / pathology
  • Salpingitis / diagnosis
  • Salpingitis / microbiology
  • Salpingitis / pathology
  • Splenic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Splenic Diseases / microbiology
  • Splenic Diseases / pathology