Open AccessP hanerochaete chrysosporium and granulomatous lung disease in a mulch gardener
Author(s) -
Lanspa Michael J.,
Hatton Nathan D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.31
Subject(s) - hypersensitivity pneumonitis , medicine , chrysosporium , bronchoalveolar lavage , pathology , lung , histoplasmosis , chemistry , organic chemistry , lignin
A 50‐year‐old woman who gardens regularly with rotting bark mulch presented with exertional dyspnea, diffusion impairment, and radiographic abnormalities (centrilobular nodules, tree‐in‐bud and ground glass opacities, calcified mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes) on a computed tomogram. Moderate lymphocytosis was noted on bronchoalveolar lavage. Surgical biopsy of her lung revealed granulomatous changes, and biopsies grew P hanerochaete chrysosporium , a fungus that causes white rot in tree bark. She was treated with voriconazole and instructed to avoid gardening, which led to radiographic and symptomatic improvement. She had recurrence of symptoms when she started doing yard work again. P . chrysosporium has been demonstrated to cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis in animal models. This case is the first documented report of P . chrysosporium associated with granulomatous lung disease in a human.