title: Abdominal and pelvic coccidioidomycosis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobonya
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Klotz
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000382:microbiology*; D000291:Adnexal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology