Tip of the iceberg: 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnoses extensively disseminated coccidioidomycosis with cutaneous lesions

• Main Authors: Nia BB, Nia ES, Osondu N, Galgiani JN, Kuo PH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2017-07-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: he began to develop tender cutaneous lesions. Biopsies of the cutaneous lesions grew Coccidioides immitis. Subsequent 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed extensive multisystem involvement including the skin/subcutaneous fat; lungs; spleen; lymph nodes; and skeleton. This case demonstrates the utility of obtaining an 18F-FDG PET/CT to assess the disease extent and activity in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis who initially present with symptoms involving only the lungs.; coccidioidomycosis; valley fever; PET; PET/CT; skin; cutaneous; disseminated; diagnosis; Coccidioides; immitis
• Online Access: http://www.swjpcc.com/pulmonary/2017/7/10/tip-of-the-iceberg-18f-fdg-petct-diagnoses-extensively-disse.html

We present a case of an immunocompetent 27-year-old African American man who was initially diagnosed with diffuse pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and started on oral fluconazole. While his symptoms improved, he began to develop tender cutaneous lesions. Biopsies of the cutaneous lesions grew Coccidioides immitis. Subsequent 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed extensive multisystem involvement including the skin/subcutaneous fat, lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, and skeleton. This case demonstrates the utility of obtaining an 18F-FDG PET/CT to assess the disease extent and activity in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis who initially present with symptoms involving only the lungs.