Disseminated Blastomycosis Mimicking Malignancy
Hsu, J.L.; Tjarks, B.J.; Berg, A.; Oliver, T.
South Dakota Medicine the Journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association 70(4): 167-171
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 0038-3317 PMID: 28813733 Document Number: 694692
Blastomycosis is an endemic fungal infection commonly found within the Mississippi and Ohio River basins and Great Lakes region. While patients typically present with acute pneumonia, Blastomyces dermatitidis has the potential to spread hematogenously, resulting in disseminated infection of multiple organs. In this report, we describe a 57-year-old male with disseminated blastomycosis acquired in South Dakota. The diagnostic evaluation was confounded by concern for malignancy given the involvement of multiple locations, including brain, lungs, adrenal glands, and testes. Despite aggressive therapy with amphotericin B, the patient succumbed to this infection.