Case Analysis and Systematic Review of Aspergilloma

Introduction: Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent fungal pathogen reported to cause diseases such as aspergilloma or aspergillosis in humans. Aspergillomas are commonly seen in a poorly drained and avascular cavitary space. Paranasal sinuses are most commonly involved, especially maxillary sinus. In the past two decades, the incidence of aspergillosis has increased substantially. Aims: To evaluate cases reported as aspergilloma of the maxillary sinus and to determine the percentage of cases involving aspergilloma of the maxillary sinus in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: After the final full-text review,16 articles were included in this systematic review. Data extracted from these full-text articles was reviewed. Results: 83 % of cases had a history of dental procedures, with 42 % of those being due to infection from previous extraction sockets and 41 % due to root canal therapy (RCT). About 43% of the patients were immunocompromised, while 56% were healthy without any predisposing conditions. Conclusion: Aspergillus fungal infections of the paranasal sinuses are common and can occur in apparently healthy as well as immunocompromised individuals. Aspergilloma is the most common fungal infection involving the maxillary sinus with iatrogenic-dentogenic factors being predominant for initiation and progression of the infection. About 43% of the patients in this review were immunocompromised patients whereas 56% of the patients were healthy without any known predisposing condi- tions. The progression and prognosis of this disease depends on the location and immunologic status of the patient. So, it is very important for dentists to be cautious while performing any dental procedures so as not to initiate any iatrogenic infections.

Pulmonary aspergilloma: A case report

@#Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a rare disease. It is usually diagnosed in immunocompromised patients with other chronic respiratory disorders. Diagnosis can be challenging due to non-specific symptoms. It is based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria and excludes other causes of the symptoms. The outcomes of antifungal treatment may be unpredictable as optimal treatment duration has not yet been standardized. This is the case of a 74-year-old male who presented via teleconsultation with hemoptysis. GeneXpert for pulmonary tuberculosis was negative. Chest radiograph showed a cavitary lesion with an aspergilloma within. This led to a longstanding treatment effort with voriconazole, as he was a poor candidate for surgical resection due to the risk of post-operative complications. Three months into the treatment, the patient unexpectedly suffered from a severe episode of dyspnea, culminating in cardiac arrest. While the patient has been resuscitated with no residuals, it is only one of the many steps on his road to recovery and his second lease on life, this time coming to terms with his own preferences and values regarding his medical care. The patient showed clinical improvement and the promise of a cure in his fifth month of treatment. Learning points include the role of family physicians in a patient’s well-being even in specialized cases, the value of individualized care and the application of technology in hybrid consultation and monitoring.

A rare case report of tracheobronchial aspergillosis with endobronchial aspergilloma in a patient clinically recovered from COVID-19

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has led to an increased incidence of fungal infections. However, pulmonary infections are rare. COVID-associated pulmonary aspergillosis has been reported; however, there is no prior report of tracheobronchial aspergillosis with endobronchial aspergilloma as per the authors' literature search. We report such a case of a 65-year-old male with radiology and biopsy-proven endobronchial aspergilloma upon a background of tracheobronchial and pulmonary aspergillosis after having recovered clinically from severe COVID-19 disease.

To Determine the Previlance of Fungal Infection Among Patient with Sputum Negative Old Treated Pulmonary Tuberculosis

A descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine in a tertiary care center ofAmbala. Aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of fungal infection among patient presents withsputum negative old treated pulmonary tuberculosis. The study was carried out among 39 post treated casesof Pulmonary Tuberculosis, whose sputum or bronchial wash showed isolation of Aspergillus. Demographicdetails and clinical findings were noted. Data collected were entered into Excel spreadsheet and quantitativedata were expressed as number and percentage. The presentation of pulmonary aspergillosis in treated casesof pulmonary TB varies from aspergilloma (51.3%) to chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (38.4%) toallergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (10.3%). Hemoptysis (79.5%) of varying severity was the mostcommon symptom. Most of the patients were farmers by occupation. The most common species wereAspergillus fumigatus; others were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terrus in 23.2%,20.5%, and 12.8 %, respectively. Here we conclude that Aspergillus fumigatus was the most frequentlyisolated species in our region and aspergilloma was the commonest pulmonary manifestation as post-TBsequel.

Rhino-maxillary aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient: case report

Introduction: Aspergillosis is the second most frequent opportunistic fungal infection of the pa-ranasal sinuses. It primarily affects the maxillary sinus and occurs mainly in immunocompromi-sed individuals. Infection is caused by inhalation of spores or by an oro-sinusal communication. Aspergillosis is classified into an invasive and non-invasive form or Aspergilloma, which usually affects immunocompetent patients. Violaceous lesions, ulcers, necrosis and tissue destruction can be manifested clinically. Patients may experience pain, paresthesias, increases in the vo-lume of purulent or bloody nasal discharge and congestion. Case report: A 62-year-old female patient, immunocompetent, with a condition evolving for about six years. Condition began after a dental extraction, and consisted of absence of scarring and recurrent episodes of symptoma-tology suggestive of maxillary sinusitis with poor response to antibiotics. The patient was referred to the maxillofacial care unit, presenting an increase of volume in the right genial region, pain and paraesthesia of infraorbital region. The CT scan showed the presence of a radiopaque foreign body in the right maxillary sinus. A surgical procedure was carried out using the Caldwe-ll-Luc technique and biopsy; the case was diagnosed with Aspergillosis. The patient was treated without antifungal therapy because she had a good immune status. Conclusion: Aspergilloma is the most common form of Aspergillosis in immunocompetent individuals. It is usually diagnosed late, as its clinical picture is similar to bacterial sinusitis. In most cases, patients respond well to surgical treatment, and systemic antifungal therapy is not necessary.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: A Perplexing Clinical Entity

In susceptible individuals, inhalation of Aspergillus spores can affect the respiratory tract in many ways. These spores get trapped in the viscid sputum of asthmatic subjects which triggers a cascade of inflammatory reactions that can result in Aspergillus-induced asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and allergic Aspergillus sinusitis (AAS). An immunologically mediated disease, ABPA, occurs predominantly in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). A set of criteria, which is still evolving, is required for diagnosis. Imaging plays a compelling role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. Demonstration of central bronchiectasis with normal tapering bronchi is still considered pathognomonic in patients without CF. Elevated serum IgE levels and Aspergillus-specific IgE and/or IgG are also vital for the diagnosis. Mucoid impaction occurring in the paranasal sinuses results in AAS, which also requires a set of diagnostic criteria. Demonstration of fungal elements in sinus material is the hallmark of AAS. In spite of similar histopathologic features, co-existence of ABPA and AAS is still uncommon. Oral corticosteroids continue to be the mainstay of management of allergic aspergillosis. Antifungal agents play an adjunctive role in ABPA as they help reduce the fungal load. Saprophytic colonization in cavitary ABPA may lead to aspergilloma formation, which could increase the severity of the disease. The presence of ABPA, AAS, and aspergilloma in the same patient has also been documented. All patients with Aspergillus-sensitized asthma must be screened for ABPA, and AAS should always be looked for.

Clinical analysis of endobronchial aspergilloma / 中国内镜杂志

Objective To discuss the clinical feature of endobronchial aspergilloma approach strategy for diagnosis and therapy. Methods 2 cases of endobronchial aspergilloma were diagnosed and literature review were made in this study. The clinical manifestation, bronchoscopic characters, imaging performances were retrospectively studied. Results The most common complaint was bloody sputum or mild hemoptysis, and chest CT usually revealed a soft tissue mass shadow with the increasing popularity of flexible bronchoscopy, it is being recognized as a necrotic mass causing bronchial obstruction, with or without a parenchymal lesion in cavity. Conclusions Bronchoscopy maybe is the key approach to detect endobronchial aspergilloma. It should be alert to lung cancer when antifungal therapy is not effective and the lesions have no reduction or even increasing.

An albino strain of Aspergillus fumigatus causes pulmonary aspergilloma in an individual with normal immune ;system / 中华皮肤科杂志

A 76?year?old female patient complained of right chest pain for three months. CT scan showed a clump?like high?density shadow measuring 4.8 cm × 3.0 cm in size in the dorsal portion of the right lower lobe of the lung. Aspiration biopsy was performed, and biopsy samples were subjected to fungal culture and histopathological examination. Histopathological examination showed chronic granulomatous inflammation with hyaline septate hyphae. After 4?day culture, white villous dense colonies were formed on the Sabouraud′s agar medium. The center of the colonies was slightly elevated with wrinkles or radiating striae on the surface, and the bottom of the colonies was faint yellow in color. Microculture yielded abundant septate branched hyphae, and very few colorless hyaline quasi?circular spores. DNA sequencing of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and β?tubulin genes was performed to identify the isolate, and antifungal susceptibility testing was carried out in vitro. The MEGA7.0 software was used to build phylogenetic trees of Aspergillus fumigatus complex and its closely related species. The isolate was identified as Aspergillus fumigatus by molecular biologic sequencing. The patient was diagnosed with pulmonary aspergilloma. After administration of itraconazole oral solution and vorionazole tablets, the condition got better obviously.

Colonização intracavitária pulmonar por Aspergillus: análise de 190 casos / Pulmonary intracavitary colonization by Aspergillus: analysis of 190 cases

A colonização intracavitária pulmonar aspergilar (CIPA) é caracterizada pela presença de massa miceliana de crescimento endocavitário. O agente mais frequente é o Aspergillus fumigatus, e a lesão cavitária é geralmente sequela de tuberculose e curada com história de hemoptise de repetição e baciloscopia negativa. Os autores analisaram retrospectivamente 190 casos de CIPA, entre abril de 1978 e março de 2008, no Serviço de Arquivo Médico do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley e no Complexo Hospitalar Clementino Fraga, enfatizando a incidência, forma de apresentação clínica, enfermidades associadas, métodos, diagnósticos e conduta terapêutica.

The colonized intrapulmonary aspergilloma (CIPA) is characterized by the mass fungal in a existing pulmonary cavity, where the most commonly agent is the Aspergillus fumigatus. The pulmonary cavity is often result cured pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptisis repletion history and bacilloscopy negative. The authors analyzed retrospectively 190 cases of CIPA from April 1978 to March 2008 in the University Hospital Lauro Wanderley and Hospital Complex Clementino Fraga emphasizing the incidence, clinical evolution, illness association, diagnosis method and treatment.

A novel technique to prevent endobronchial spillage during video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.

Endobronchial spillage of fungal material into normal lung can infect it and the spillage of fungal material should be prevented during surgery. We report our experience of a patient who presented for right upper lobectomy with bronchiectasis, tubercular destruction and subsequent aspergilloma. A 4F Fogarty catheter was introduced through the tracheal lumen of the left sided endobronchial double lumen tube (DLT) to occlude the bronchus intermedius to prevent spillage of aspergilloma into the non‑infected lower and middle lobes of the right lung. The Fogarty catheter was pulled into the trachea just before stapling the bronchus; thereafter, right upper lobectomy was completed successfully. The patient was extubated uneventfully and transferred to post‑operative recovery ward. The endobronchial blockage of the intermediate bronchus of the operative lung by the Fogarty catheter and isolation of the left lung by the DLT prevented spillage of aspergilloma in both the operative right lung and the left lung.

The experience share of surgical treatment on 24 cases with pulmonary aspergilloma / 中国综合临床

Objective To improve the diagnosis and surgical management of pulmonary aspergilloma.Methods Twenty-four patients underwent surgical treatment for pulmonary aspergilloma were enrolled in our study from April 2005 to May 2012 at the second hospital of Xiamen.The information of all cases was recorded.Results There were 18 males and 6 females in all subjects,and their age ranged from 22 to 67 year.The surgical outcome were 15 lobectomies,3 segmentectomies or wedge resections,1 right upper and middle lobectomy,1 radical debridement,4 pneumonectomy.Results There was no preoperative mortality.Seven cases (29.2％) developed complications in this series including 1 postoperative bleeding,1 bleeding during operation,2 pulmonary infection,1 bronchial fistula,1 pulmonary reexpansion insufficiency,1 wound infection.Conclusion Surgical resection of pulmonary lesion is the most effective method for pulmonary aspergilloma.Moreover strengthening the perioperative management could decrease the morbidity and mortality.

Haemoptysis after four years of lobectomy for aspergilloma.

We present a case of a 26-year-old male who underwent lobectomy for life-threatening haemoptysis due to aspergilloma in an old tuberculosis left upper lobe cavity who presented with recurrence of haemoptysis four years after the surgery. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy revealed Aspergillus colonisation in the ectatic residual bronchus which is an uncommon complication of lobectomy. The patient was successfully managed with antifungal agents.

Co-existence of HIV, active tuberculosis and aspergilloma in a single individual - A case report.

Summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease as old as mankind, whereas in India the first case of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was reported in 1986. HIV and TB are so closely connected that their relationship is often described as a coepidemic. Aspergilloma (Fungal Ball, Mycetoma) represents a saprophytic growth of aspergillus that colonizes in the preformed cavities commonly due to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). We report a case of HIV, active pulmonary tuberculosis and aspergilloma occurring in the same patient. Despite our best efforts, we could not lay our hands on any similar case in the medical literature.

Pediatric pulmonary and thoracic aspergillosis.

Aspergillus infection can cause significant disease in an immunocompromised host and lungs are the most common site of infection. Various forms of aspergillus involving lung parenchyma have been described including aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and semi-invasive and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Pulmonary aspergilloma usually occurs in patients with pre-existing cystic lung diseases. The classic radiographic finding is a discrete, round or oval mass in a pulmonary cavity, which moves with gravity. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is characterized by clinical asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Central bronchiectasis in patients with asthma is highly suggestive of ABPA. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is usually fatal infection in patients taking immunosuppressants. Infection can also spread to other visceral organs. Multiple and solitary nodular densities as well as diffuse or focal consolidation have been reported. CT halo sign and CT hypodense signs are suggestive of IPA. Other forms of thoracic aspergillosis may include pleural aspergillosis, which can cause empyema. Osteomyelitis of the thoracic cage has been reported particularly in association with chronic granulomatous disease. We would like to demonstrate pertinent clinical and radiographic features of pulmonary and thoracic involvement of aspergillosis including radiographic differential diagnoses.

Resección quirúrgica de aspergiloma en paciente inmunosuprimido: presentación de un caso clínico / Surgical resection of aspergilloma in immunosupressed patient: a case report

Aspergillosis refers to the spectrum of disease caused by Aspergillus species. The aspergilloma is the most common and best-recognized form of pulmonary involvement due to Aspergillus; usually developing in a preformed lung cavity and the principal association is with Tuberculosis. The true incidence of aspergilloma is not known. Although frequently asymptomatic, the presence of a fungus ball due to Aspergillus may cause hemoptysis and in cases can be fatal, with a variable mortality ranging between 9 to 30 percent. Aspergilloma usually comes to clinical attention as an incidental finding, thus the diagnosis involve clinical and radiological findings confirmed by pathology. There is no consistent evidence that aspergilloma. Responds to antifungal agents, and these drugs rarely achieve the minimal inhibitory concentrations within the lung cavities. Surgical resection, despite a high morbidity, is the only proven therapy for these cases.

La aspergilosis se refiere al espectro de enfermedades ocasionadas por la especie de Aspergillus. El aspergiloma es la forma más reconocida y común de la afección pulmonar relacionada a dicha especie, generalmente se desarrolla en una cavidad pulmonar pre-existente, la principal asociación es con secuelas de tuberculosis. Se desconoce la incidencia a nivel mundial. La mayoría de los pacientes se manifiestan asintomáticos; en raras ocasiones, debutan con hemoptisis mayor, con una mortalidad variable que oscila entre el 9 a 30 por ciento. El diagnóstico se basa en los hallazgos clínicos, imagenología y confirmados por patología. El tratamiento farmacológico no ha demostrado ser de gran utilidad, en tanto que, la cirugía a pesar de una elevada morbilidad podría ser el tratamiento de elección.

Pulmonary Spergilloma : An Interesting Case.

In many cases, the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergilloma become difficult on the basis of radiological sign by chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan as it can produce wide variety of radiographic changes. Often there is a diagnostic dilemma between lung malignancy and pulmonary aspergilloma. The diagnosis also can be established by sputum examination and culture. In our case, we report a 40-year old male presented with cough and hemoptysis. He was subsequently diagnosed as a case of pulmonary aspergilloma on the basis of evidence of radiological findings mainly.

Pericardial tamponade after left posterolateral thoracotomy for left upper lobectomy for pulmonary aspergilloma.

Pericardial tamponade limits diastolic filling of the heart; therefore, a high venous pressure is required to fill the ventricle. In presence of cardiac tamponade, therapeutic agents and manoeuvres that results in venodilation or vasodilation can severely compromise diastolic filling of the heart and might result in rapid cardiac decompensation. Equalization of central venous pressure and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure or equalization of pressures in all four chambers during diastole confirms cardiac tamponade. Transthoracic echocardiography can detect the site of tamponade and assist in pericardiocentesis. We describe acute pericardial tamponade in a young man who underwent left posterolateral thoracotomy for left upper lobectomy. Intraoperatively, mobilization of the left upper lobe was frequently associated with hypotension. Postoperatively, the patient suffered two more episodes of hypotension. The episodes of hypotension were attributed to surgical manipulation and epidural blockade. Hemodynamics normalized after discontinuing epidural infusion, volume resuscitation and lobectomy. On third postoperative day, the patient developed cardiovascular collapse; arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure were 70/50 and 12 mmHg. Investigations showed haziness of left lung, and severe respiratory acidosis. On opening of the left thoracotomy wound, pericardial tamponade was diagnosed. A pericardial window was created and tamponade was released with that the hemodynamics normalized. Episodes of unexplained hypotension after left upper lobectomy suggest a cardiac etiology and acute pericardial tamponade is a possibility which should be released immediately otherwise it can result in fatal outcome.

Endobronchial Aspergilloma: Report of 10 Cases and Literature Review

PURPOSE: A retrospective investigation of the clinical and radiologic features as well as the bronchoscopic appearance was carried out in patients with endobronchial aspergilloma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with endobronchial aspergilloma diagnosed by bronchoscopy and histological examination were identified at the Gyeongsang University Hospital of Korea, from May 2003 to May 2009. RESULTS: The patients included 9 men and 1 woman, and the age of the patients ranged from 36 to 76 (median, 58 years). The associated diseases or conditions were: previous pulmonary tuberculosis in 7 patients, lung cancer in 2 patients, pulmonary resection in 1 patient, and foreign body of the bronchus in 1 patient. The chest radiologic finding showed fibrotic changes as a consequence of previous tuberculosis infection in 6 patients and a mass-like lesion in 2 patients. Two patients had a co-existing fungus ball, and an endobronchial lesion was suspected in only 2 patients on the CT scan. The bronchoscopic appearance was a whitish to yellow necrotic mass causing bronchial obstruction in 7 patients, foreign body with adjacent granulation tissue and whitish necrotic tissue in 1 patient, whitish necrotic tissue at an anastomosis site in 1 patient, and a protruding mass with whitish necrotic tissue in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: An endobronchial aspergilloma is a rare presentation of pulmonary aspergilosis and is usually incidentally found in immunocompetent patients with underlying lung disease. It usually appears as a necrotic mass causing bronchial obstruction on bronchoscopy and can be confirmed by biopsy.

A Case of Pulmonary Siderosis Mimicking Metastatic Lung Cancer / 결핵및호흡기질환

Pulmonary siderosis is a pneumoconiosis caused by chronic iron inhalation. A diagnosis of pulmonary siderosis is based on a patient history of iron inhalation, on chest radiographic findings, and on accumulation of iron oxide in macrophages within the lung. A typical radiographic finding of pulmonary siderosis includes ill-defined micronodules that are diffusely distributed in the lung. We experienced a 52-year-woman with a 1.3x1.5-cm mass in the left upper lobe with multiple nodules in both lungs. Because the radiographic findings were atypical, we conducted a video-assisted thorascopic lung biopsy procedure to exclude the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. After confirming iron deposition in the lung tissue and knowing the patient's occupational history of welding iron, we concluded that this was a case of pulmonary siderosis.

A Case of Pulmonary Siderosis Mimicking Metastatic Lung Cancer / 결핵및호흡기질환

Pulmonary siderosis is a pneumoconiosis caused by chronic iron inhalation. A diagnosis of pulmonary siderosis is based on a patient history of iron inhalation, on chest radiographic findings, and on accumulation of iron oxide in macrophages within the lung. A typical radiographic finding of pulmonary siderosis includes ill-defined micronodules that are diffusely distributed in the lung. We experienced a 52-year-woman with a 1.3x1.5-cm mass in the left upper lobe with multiple nodules in both lungs. Because the radiographic findings were atypical, we conducted a video-assisted thorascopic lung biopsy procedure to exclude the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. After confirming iron deposition in the lung tissue and knowing the patient's occupational history of welding iron, we concluded that this was a case of pulmonary siderosis.