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A case of primary pulmonary Schizophyllum commune empyema treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication

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Abstract

Schizophyllum commune (S. commune) is an environmental basidiomycete bracket fungus that can rarely cause invasive fungal disease. Its diagnosis is challenging and often missed. We present a rare case of a 56-year-old diabetic gentleman with a 6-months history of progressive productive cough, small volume hemoptysis and non-resolving fungal empyema treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication. Pulmonary infection of S. Commune is extremely rare and can manifest as complex fungal empyema. Close cooperation between respirologists, thoracic surgeons and microbiologists is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of such cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Alice Zhu

  2. Division of Thoracic Surgery, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, University of Toronto, 30 The Queensway, Room 240, Sunnyside Wing, Toronto, M6R 1B5, Canada

    Kevin R. An & Michael Ko

  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Yan Chen & Corwyn Rowsell

  4. Division of Respirology, Humber River Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Laura Goode

Authors
  1. Alice Zhu
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  2. Kevin R. An
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  3. Yan Chen
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  4. Corwyn Rowsell
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  5. Laura Goode
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  6. Michael Ko
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Correspondence to Michael Ko.

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Alice Zhu has no conflict of interest. Kevin R. An has no conflict of interest. Yan Chen has no conflict of interest. Corwyn Rowsell has no conflict of interest. Laura Goode has no conflict of interest. Michael Ko has no conflict of interest.

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Zhu, A., An, K.R., Chen, Y. et al. A case of primary pulmonary Schizophyllum commune empyema treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 69, 584–587 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-020-01522-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-020-01522-z

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