We report a case of primary pulmonary sporotrichosis in a 74-year-old immunocompetent woman. Culture was superior to histopathological methods in terms of diagnostic yield because the organism was not abundant in tissue sections and was visualized poorly with routine histochemical stains. Ultimately, diagnosis was made by the microbiology laboratory. Recognition of this fact is important for the proper collection and transport of clinical specimens to ensure recovery of the etiological agents of mycotic infections.