A Case of Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis: When the Treasure Chest Wall Opened

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by soil-dwelling fungi, Coccidioides, that are endemic to the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and scattered areas of Latin America. It typically presents with pulmonary manifestations that resemble symptoms of bronchitis, pneumonia, and the flu. Extrapulmonary manifestations that involve the skin, lymph nodes, bones, and joints have also been well described, but disseminated coccidioidomycosis initially presenting as chest wall infection without pulmonary symptoms is not. In this article, we present a case of a 33-year-old man who presented with chest wall swelling and eventually diagnosed with chest wall abscesses due to disseminated coccidioidomycosis. We propose that consideration of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in nonresolving swelling, mass, lesions, or abscess especially in endemic areas for coccidioidomycosis and in travelers to the endemic area may prevent the progression and further complications of coccidioidomycosis.