title: Diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infections.
abstract: The diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infections is reviewed. An overview of the major endemic and opportunistic fungal infections is followed by a brief discussion of the available diagnostic tools. These include: (1) direct microscopic examination of secretions or body fluids; (2) histopathologic examination of tissue biopsies; (3) cultures of secretions, body fluids, or ground-up tissue; and (4) immunological tests ("fungal serologies"). In the final section, a current diagnostic approach is given that identifies the diagnostic tests more likely to be helpful for each infection.
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D001706:Biopsy; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents