Common Fungal Infections

Fungal infections of the lung are commonly seen by practicing pathologists. Typically caused by inhalation of fungal organisms (spores or hyphae), these infections can be broadly classified into two categories: endemic fungi, which typically infect immunocompetent hosts (but may also infect immunocompromised patients), and opportunistic fungi, which only infect immunocompromised patients. This chapter reviews six of the most common lung fungal infections seen in North America.