Paracoccidioidomycosis presenting as a cavitating pulmonary mass

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis, a granulomatous fungal infection often termed "South American blastomycosis," has been reported in only 11 patients in the United States to date. All have been male patients who had either traveled to or emigrated from South America. We report the findings in a 24-year-old woman with a solitary cavitating pulmonary mass which was proven to be paracoccidioidomycosis. This uncommon presentation of paracoccidioidomycosis was surgically resected, and no antifungal chemotherapy was instituted. The patient remains well and apparently free of the infection.