title: Airway coccidioidomycosis--report of cases and review.
abstract: Infection due to Coccidioides immitis usually begins in the lungs. Despite the initial pulmonary portal of entry, endotracheal and endobronchial coccidioidomycosis has rarely been described. Since the introduction of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and the AIDS epidemic, more C. immitis lesions of the large airways have been noted. We present data on 38 cases of coccidioidomycosis of the airways, including 6 cases detailed from our own experience and 32 from the literature. Direct infection of the airways (28 cases) is a more common mechanism of airways disease than is erosion into the airways from a lymph node (5 cases). Bronchoscopic findings vary and may show mucosal involvement or intrinsic obstruction. Endotracheal and endobronchial disease is not a self-limited disease and requires antifungal therapy. Disseminated disease in these patients is common. Coccidioidomycosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of airway pathology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California 95128-2699, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polesky
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: LoBue
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Dykstra
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wehner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catanzaro
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ampel
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy