Chronic pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

Since 1942, when paracoccidioidomycosis was first identified in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, paracoccidioidal pulmonary lesions became a great concern to physicians. The present study focuses on 53 patients diagnosed over a seven-year period who presented paracoccidioidal lesions circumscribed to the lungs. These patients presented clinical and radiological features that simulated several pulmonary infectious and non-infectious conditions. Four unusual cases are briefly discussed. A sequence of laboratorial tests should be established for the diagnosis of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.