Comparison of clinical histopathology of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis and aspergilloma / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the role of clinical features,radiography and histopathology in differential diagnosis between chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis(CNPA)and aspergilloma.Methods Thirty-four patients including 8 cases of CNPA and 26 of aspergilloma comfirmed by operation and histopathology in First Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University were investigated retrospectively.The clinical manifestations,radiological and pathological findings of all the patients were analyzed and related references were reviewed. Results The age of onset was not significantly different between CNPA and aspergilloma.Obsolete pulmonary tuberculosis and lung abscess were predisposing factors of them.Productive cough was presented in all 8 cases of CNPA,haemoptvsis in 7,and 5 were presented with constitutional symptoms.The most common symptom of aspergilloma was haemoptysis, which was presented in 25 cases.The less common symptoms were cough and sputum,which was presented in 17 cases.Only two cases were presented with constitutional symptoms."Air crescent"sign at radiography was typical and suggestive of diagnosis in both CNPA and aspergilloma,but the wall of cavity in CNPA was thicker and irregular,infiltrates were often to be seen around the cavity.Histologically,CNPA and aspergilloma both showed septate fungal hyphae branching at an acute angle.CNPA was characterized with the presence of tissue invasion by aspergillus,tissue necrosis and granulomatous inflammation. Fungal hyphae ware only found in a preexistent cavity or ectatic bronchus without tissue invasion in aspergilloma.Conclusions Histopathology is gold standard of differential diagnosis of CNPA and aspergilloma. Meanwhile, clinical features and radiological findings appear to be valuable for the diagnosis.