Skip to content

Assembly

A Cavitary Conundrum

Authors: Dylan L McCreary1,2, Lisa Jarnagin2, Daniel Puebla2

1 – University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
2 – Banner University Medical Center Phoenix

 

Case

A 27-year-old male with history of diabetes mellitus and pulmonary coccidiomycosis presented to the hospital with hemoptysis and a right lower lobe cavitary lesion. He later developed a right pneumothorax with bronchopleural fistula and underwent a thoracotomy with right lower lobe lobectomy. Pathology from the lobectomy section showed fungal elements forming hyphae like structures in addition to spherules. Laboratory workup showed positive Coccidioides PCR with complement fixation at titer of 1:8. Aspergillus galactomannan antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage specimen and serum beta-D glucan assay were negative.

 

image 1

Figure 1: CT Chest with IV contrast

 

image2

Figure 2: Histopathology section from cavitary lung lesion with H&E stain (Panel A) and GMS stain (Panel B)

 

Question

What is the most probable cause of the cavitary lung lesion?

A. Aspergillus
B. Coccidioides
C. Aspergillus and Coccidioides co-infection
D. Mucor
E. Fusarium spp

 

Answer