Cytodiagnostic pitfalls in pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

Two cases of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis which were initially misdiagnosed as carcinoma in cytologic examinations of material obtained by bronchoscopy or fine-needle aspiration are reported. The cytodiagnostic pitfalls of misinterpreting reactive bronchial epithelial cells as carcinoma cells and of failing to recognize fungal organisms are discussed.