Systemic mycoses infect which deep tissues?

Systemic mycoses infect which deep tissues?

• A. Skin only
• B. Lung, bone, CNS, GI tract
• C. Lungs only
• D. Blood and lymphatic tissue

Answer: (B)

Systemic mycoses spread beyond the initial lung infection to multiple internal organs. After inhalation, the organisms travel through the bloodstream (and sometimes the lymphatics) to deep tissues, so they commonly involve the lungs as the entry point, then disseminate to bones, the central nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract. This pattern of hematogenous spread to several major internal sites is what makes those deep tissues the typical targets. Skin involvement can occur, but it is not the primary pattern described for disseminated disease, and the answer reflects the broader deep-tissue involvement rather than isolated sites or superficial tissues.

Systemic mycoses spread beyond the initial lung infection to multiple internal organs. After inhalation, the organisms travel through the bloodstream (and sometimes the lymphatics) to deep tissues, so they commonly involve the lungs as the entry point, then disseminate to bones, the central nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract. This pattern of hematogenous spread to several major internal sites is what makes those deep tissues the typical targets. Skin involvement can occur, but it is not the primary pattern described for disseminated disease, and the answer reflects the broader deep-tissue involvement rather than isolated sites or superficial tissues.