Elevated tumor markers in coccidiomyocosis of the female genital tract

Abstract

The female genital tract is rarely involved by coccidioidomycosis. We describe a woman with disseminated coccidioidomycosis involving the female pelvic organs associated with elevated tumor markers CA 125 and CA 19-9. She had no fevers and the initial clinical suspicion was a malignancy because of the elevated tumor markers. At exploratory laparotomy a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy were performed because of the suspicion of a malignancy. Subsequent pathology demonstrated coccidioidomycosis involving the female genital tract and no malignancy. The abnormal CA 125 and CA 19-9 returned to normal after surgical resection and treatment of the coccidioidomycosis.

Colonic basidiobolomycosis presenting with intestinal obstruction and a normal eosinophil count

“…Remarkably, the CA-125 level was high. Previous studies have demonstrated increased CA-125 levels in granulomatous diseases including pelvic coccidiomycosis and tuberculosis [22]. In one study, 40% of active pulmonary TB patients had a raised serum CA-125 with a mean level of 38.9 U/mL.…”

Peritoneal and genital coccidioidomycosis in an otherwise healthy Danish female: a case report

“…In our case, the peritoneal plaques were initially suspected to represent peritoneal carcinomatosis. In two previously published cases, female genital coccidioidomycosis mimicked ovarian cancer due to the presence of an ovarian mass in combination with elevated levels of the tumor-markers CA125 and CA 19–9 [ 12 , 13 ] and malignant-appearing nodules on all serosal surfaces of the peritoneum [ 13 ]. Pregnancy is a known major risk factor for disseminated disease.…”