[Isolated bronchial oxalosis as a diagnostic clue to chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis]

ABSTRACT

Calcium oxalate crystals deposition in tissues has been reported in association with enzymatic, nutritional and metabolic disorders. In some cases, oxalosis is associated with aspergillosis. We report a case of bronchial oxalosis occurring secondary to a non-invasive chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a 62-yearold female patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this case, bronchial oxalate deposition, identified on histopathologic and cytopathologic specimens, preceded by far the identification of aspergillus hyphae. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis affects patients who are mildly immunocompromised and is rarely associated with calcium oxalate deposition. Oxalosis may be accompanied by tissue necrosis, explaining a potential fulminant evolution of this disease