Question

A 40-year-old woman from Washington D.C, was admitted to the hospital for investigation of a mass in her right lung. She was on chemotherapy and the cancer seemed to be going into remission. There were no complaints outside those associated with anti-cancer medication, except that she possessed a slight chronic cough. Past history revealed a flulike illness 6 weeks to prior to admission, while she was visiting her sister in California. X-rays showed a well delineated round density in the right lower lobe. A skin test for tuberculosis was negative. The nodule was surgically removed, and some of the specimen was sent for mycology culture. Within 4 days, a white fluffy mold grew well on both plain SABHI agar and media with cyclohexamide and chloramphenicol.

What disease do you suspect?
Option 1: Fungus ball with Scedosporium apiospermum
Option 2: Abscess with Candida albicans
Option 3: Pulmonary coccidiodomycosis
Option 4: Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection
Option 5: Infection due to Geotrichum candidum
Option 6: Histoplasmosis

Answer 1

The disease suspected is pulmonary coccidiomycosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The disease that is suspected in this case is pulmonar coccidiomycosis. The patient presents with a mass in the right lung along with a chronic cough.

The X-rays show a well delineated round density in the right lower lobe. The skin test for tuberculosis is negative, and the mycology culture reveals the growth of a white fluffy mold, which is indicative of Coccidioides species.