High attenuation mucus in bronchi with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis.

BACKGROUND: High-attenuation mucus (HAM) is a specific manifestation of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) on chest computed tomography (CT). OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the two definitions of HAM and to clarify the clinical and radiographic characteristics of HAM-positive and HAM-negative ABPM. METHODS: CT images at the diagnosis of ABPM using Asano's criteria were retrospectively analysed. In Study #1, radiographic data obtained using the same CT apparatus in a single institute were analysed to determine the agreement between the two definitions of HAM: a mucus plug that is visually denser than the paraspinal muscles or that with a radiodensity ≥70 Hounsfield units. In Study #2, HAM was diagnosed by comparison with the paraspinal muscles in patients with ABPM reporting to 14 medical institutes in Japan. RESULTS: In Study #1, 93 mucus plugs from 26 patients were analysed. A substantial agreement for HAM diagnosis was observed between the two methods, with a κ coefficient of 0.72. In Study #2, 60 cases of ABPM were analysed; mucus plugs were present in all cases and HAM was diagnosed in 45 (75%) cases. The median A. fumigatus-specific IgE titre was significantly lower in HAM-positive patients than in HAM-negative patients (2.5 vs. 24.3 UA /mL, p = .004). Nodular shadows were observed more frequently in the airways distal to HAM than in those distal to non-HAM mucus plugs (59% vs. 32%, p < .001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, agreement between the two methods to diagnose HAM was substantial. HAM was associated with some immunological and radiographic characteristics, including lower levels of sensitization to A. fumigatus and the presence of distal airway lesions.

Clinical, Microbiological, Serological and Radiological Profile of Patients With Mild-Moderate and Severe Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA).

Objective Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a complex hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus antigen mostly Aspergillus fumigatus that occurs almost exclusively in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. ABPA is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease because of its presentation with various grades of severity in asthma patients. Data available regarding the clinical, serological, and radiological profile of ABPA patients is limited due to lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines. Thus ABPA is a significant disease, especially in the Indian population where the incidence of allergic diseases like asthma is on the rise. Methods This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at one of the tertiary centers of north India. All consecutive patients diagnosed with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) from 1st January 2017 to 30th September 2017 were included in the study. A total of 67 consecutive patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma were included in the study. The diagnosis of ABPA was based upon either criterion given by Rosenberg and Paterson or the International Society of Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) criteria. Patients diagnosed with ABPA were finally divided into mild, moderate, and severe. Results The majority of patients showed an obstructive pattern on spirometry and moderate to severe obstruction was the most common pattern observed among patients who had an obstructive pattern on spirometry. Also, all three patients with the mixed pattern on spirometry had severe disease. Serological analysis revealed that patients in the moderate category had a higher level of absolute eosinophil count (AEC), total IgE, and Aspergillus-specific IgE antibodies, especially in patients who had either high attenuation mucus (HAM) or centrilobular nodules on their high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan. Conclusion ABPA is a disease of divergent presentation. We concluded to have alternate or add-on criteria for the classification of ABPA which was not based on the sequelae of chronic inflammatory changes in the lungs.

Successful treatment with inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting ß2-agonist in a case of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis caused by Schizophyllumcommune.

Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is a chronic immune-mediated pulmonary disease, which is caused by fungal infection of the airways. Aspergillus species are the main causative fungi and standard treatment typically comprises systemic corticosteroid therapy with or without adjunct antifungal agents. We describe our experience with a case of ABPM caused by Schizophyllum commune (S. commune), with satisfactory response to treatment with a combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting ß 2-agonist. The patient was a 61-year-old man who was referred to our hospital with dry cough and abnormal findings on chest radiography. He had peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated levels of total serum IgE. High-resolution CT showed multiple areas of patchy consolidation with high-attenuation mucus plugs in the right upper lobe. Bronchoscopy revealed mucus plug impaction in the bronchial lumen, and Grocott's staining of the mucus detected fungal hyphae. Bronchioalveolar lavage fluid culture yielded white woolly colonies, which was subsequently identified as S. commune by MALDI-TOF MS and gene sequencing. Serology was positive for S. commune-specific IgE and IgG. We made a definitive diagnosis of ABPM caused by S. commune. Symptoms and chest CT findings improved considerably with inhaled combined fluticasone furoate/vilanterol trifenatate therapy, without the use of systemic corticosteroids or antifungal agents.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Mycosis Complicated with Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Chest computed tomography (CT) of a 76-year-old woman with bronchial asthma showed multiple lung nodules with high CT densities that were compatible with high-attenuation mucoid (HAM) impactions characteristic of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM). Follow-up chest CT revealed increased sizes of multiple lung nodules. However, a left upper lobe nodule showed lower CT density than the other HAM impactions. A transbronchial lung biopsy of that upper lobe nodule revealed lung adenocarcinoma. Measuring the CT density is important for the differential diagnosis of lung nodules when following ABPM patients. Our patient's increased serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels were associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia. Mucoid impaction in the lung was positively stained with carcinoembryonic antigen and showed the distribution of eosinophilic granules.

Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis characterized by chest pain and high-attenuation mucus on computed tomography.

A 45-year-old woman developed chest pain on the previous day. High-attenuation mucus in the bronchus was found on the CT examination on admission, which led to a diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. CT should be checked carefully for high-attenuation mucus because this finding is highly specific for allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis.

A case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis with marked peripheral blood eosinophilia successfully treated with benralizumab.

We herein report a case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) with marked eosinophilia and high attenuation mucus (HAM) on chest computed tomography (CT), which demonstrated a rapid and remarkable improvement with benralizumab treatment. A 67-year-old Japanese woman, who was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 64 years, was admitted with dyspnea. Her blood test results showed marked eosinophilia (peripheral blood eosinophil count 24403/µL) and elevated serum IgE levels. Chest CT also revealed ground-glass opacity. Sputum cytology detected filamentous fungi, suggesting an infection with Aspergillus spp. Based on these findings, ABPA was diagnosed. Following systemic corticosteroid treatment, her respiratory symptoms and chest radiography findings showed improvements. However, with the gradual tapering and eventual discontinuance of the corticosteroid therapy, a concomitant increase in the peripheral blood eosinophils and a recurrence of the clinical symptoms, was observed. In addition, her pulmonary function decreased and chest CT revealed worsened bronchial mucus plugs. To control the asthma with ABPA exacerbation, benralizumab was administered. Following treatment with benralizumab, the patient's asthmatic symptoms improved, together with a decrease in her peripheral eosinophil count. Mucus plugs were no longer visible on chest CT. Pulmonary function test result also showed a remarkable improvement. There was no relapse of dyspnea and no reappearance of the mucus plugs. This case suggests that benralizumab may be a suitable treatment option for patients with ABPA with marked eosinophilia and HAM on chest CT.

Retrospective high-resolution CT analysis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the high-resolution CT (HRCT) imaging characteristics of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Methods The clinical data of 21 patients with ABPA diagnosed in Dalian Second People's Hospital and Nanjing Lishui District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2010 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed,and their clinical manifestations and HRCT examinations were statistically analyzed to summarize the HRCT imaging manifestations.Results Among the 21 patients,cough,expectoration and wheezing were the main clinical symptoms,followed by fever and hemoptysis;5 patients had a history of drug or food allergy.ABPA showed 18 cases of central bronchiectasis on HRCT,including 10 cases of simple bronchiectasis,9 cases with low-attenuation mucus,and 6 cases with high-attenuation mucus;patchy consolidation infiltration were seen in 11 cases;masses were seen in 2 cases;central nodules and tree buds were seen in 3 cases;mediastinal lymph nodes were enlarged in 6 cases.Conclusions HRCT imaging of ABPA is difficult to diagnose,and central bronchiectasis with high-attenuation mucus is characteristic.It can be used as a reliable basis for the diagnosis of ABPA imaging.Combined with clinical and laboratory examinations,it can generally be diagnosed clearly.

A review of 42 asthmatic children with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in children with asthma, not associated with cystic fibrosis, is yet to receive the recognition it deserves. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the presentation of ABPA in children with asthma. METHODS: This retrospective review documents the occurrence of pediatric ABPA over a period of 31 years in one unit. Children with asthma, eosinophilia and infiltrates on chest radiograph were screened for ABPA. In these patients, demonstration of immediate hypersensitivity response against Aspergillus species along with serological profile and pulmonary function testing were done. Bronchography/computed tomography (CT) of the chest demonstrated central bronchiectasis (CB). CT of the paranasal sinuses was done in patients with upper airways symptoms. In those suspected with allergic Aspergillus sinusitis (AAS) consent was sought from the parents for the invasive procedure needed for the diagnosis of AAS. RESULTS: Of the 349 patients with ABPA diagnosed, 42 (12.03%) were in the pediatric age group. The mean age on presentation was 12.9 ± 4 years with a male preponderance. All patients had asthma and positive intradermal/skin prick test against Aspergillus species. Ring shadows, the most common radiological presentation, were seen in 28 of 42 patients. Bronchography/CT of the chest demonstrated CB, a feature pathognomic of ABPA, in 32 of 42 patients. High attenuation mucus plugs was observed in 7 of 36 patients while ABPA-seropositive was diagnosed in 10 of 42 patients. On imaging, sinusitis was seen in 20 of 30 patients with upper airways symptoms of whom eight had suspected AAS. Three parents consented for surgery, which confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need to evaluate asthmatic children for ABPA as also to exclude AAS.

Bronchocele density in cystic fibrosis as an indicator of allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a severe and under-diagnosed complication of cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of the study was to determine whether the mucus content of bronchoceles in cystic fibrosis complicated with ABPA reveals a higher density than the mucus content of non-ABPA cystic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied retrospectively 43 computed tomography scans (CT scans) of a pediatric population of cystic fibrosis patients. We measured the mucus attenuation in Hounsfield Units (HU) of all bronchoceles >5mm in diameter. RESULTS: We found bronchoceles >5mm in 13/43 patients. 5/13 patients had a positive diagnosis of ABPA. The median HU value of bronchoceles was higher in patients with than without ABPA [98 HU (26-135) vs 28 HU (10-36); P=0,02]. Moreover, all patients with a bronchocele density >36HU were ABPA positive. CONCLUSIONS: CF complicated with ABPA shows higher attenuation bronchoceles on CT scans of the chest. Systematic density measurements of bronchoceles could help to raise the difficult diagnosis of ABPA in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Larger series could confirm a threshold in HU which could become a new imaging criterion for the diagnosis of ABPA.

A review of 42 asthmatic children with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in children with asthma, not associated with cystic fibrosis, is yet to receive the recognition it deserves. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the presentation of ABPA in children with asthma. METHODS: This retrospective review documents the occurrence of pediatric ABPA over a period of 31 years in one unit. Children with asthma, eosinophilia and infiltrates on chest radiograph were screened for ABPA. In these patients, demonstration of immediate hypersensitivity response against Aspergillus species along with serological profile and pulmonary function testing were done. Bronchography/computed tomography (CT) of the chest demonstrated central bronchiectasis (CB). CT of the paranasal sinuses was done in patients with upper airways symptoms. In those suspected with allergic Aspergillus sinusitis (AAS) consent was sought from the parents for the invasive procedure needed for the diagnosis of AAS. RESULTS: Of the 349 patients with ABPA diagnosed, 42 (12.03%) were in the pediatric age group. The mean age on presentation was 12.9 ± 4 years with a male preponderance. All patients had asthma and positive intradermal/skin prick test against Aspergillus species. Ring shadows, the most common radiological presentation, were seen in 28 of 42 patients. Bronchography/CT of the chest demonstrated CB, a feature pathognomic of ABPA, in 32 of 42 patients. High attenuation mucus plugs was observed in 7 of 36 patients while ABPA-seropositive was diagnosed in 10 of 42 patients. On imaging, sinusitis was seen in 20 of 30 patients with upper airways symptoms of whom eight had suspected AAS. Three parents consented for surgery, which confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need to evaluate asthmatic children for ABPA as also to exclude AAS.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA)-The High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Chest Imaging Scenario.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a progressive disease which can lead to recurrent exacerbations, bronchiectatic changes and end-stage fibrosis. Early diagnosis and treatment prevents its progression and alleviate its clinical manifestations. High resolution CT of the chest has emerged as a promising investigation for its diagnosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To review the high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest manifestations in ABPA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 110 patients with ABPA who had undergone HRCT of the chest in the routine diagnostic workup for ABPA. The scans were assessed for changes in bronchi, parenchyma and pleura and findings consistent with ABPA were evaluated. RESULTS: HRCT chest was normal in 24 patients. 86 patients demonstrated central bronchiectasis with predilection for upper and middle lobes. Centrilobular nodules with or without linear opacities (tree in bud pattern), mucoceles and high-attenuation mucus were seen in 86%, 59% and 36% patients respectively. CONCLUSION: Central bonchiectasis combined with centrilobular nodules and mucus impaction (especially high attenuation mucus) strongly favour the diagnosis of ABPA.

High attenuation mucoid impaction in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a complex hypersensitivity syndrome triggered against antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus that most commonly colonizes the airways of patients with bronchial asthma and cystic fibrosis. It presents clinically with refractory asthma, hemoptysis and systemic manifestations including fever, malaise and weight loss. Radiologically, it presents with central bronchiectasis and recurrent episodes of mucus plugging. The mucus plugs in ABPA are generally hypodense but in up to 20% of patients the mucus can be hyperdense on computed tomography. This paper reviews the literature on the clinical significance of hyperattenuated mucus in patients with ABPA.