[Association of paracoccidioidomycosis with different pulmonary pathologies in a hospital in Corrientes Province, Argentina].

For 2 years, a systematic research of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) had been conducted in a hospital in the city of Corrientes. The inclusion criterium used was: tuberculosis patients (TBC), presumptive or confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary cancer (CA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or X-ray images compatible with pulmonary mycosis (XRC). Eighty four patients were studied: 57 (TBC), 1 (CA), 5 (COPD), 3 (TBC+CA), 4 (TBC+COPD), 4 (COPD+CA) and 10 (XRC). Serology tests by agar gel immunodiffusion (IDGA) were performed on all patients, whereas microbiological studies were performed on those cases in which clinical samples could be obtained. Ten PCM were diagnosed by IDGA; 4 associated to TBC, 1 to TBC+CA, 3 to COPD and only 2 to XRC. PCM was mycologically proven in 9 of these cases. Systematic research of PCM would lead to an early diagnosis and therefore, to better chances for a successful treatment.