Abstract
Aspergillus is a common environmental pathogen. However, clinically significant disease only occurs in a small proportion of patients. Although rare in its occurrence, it remains a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in certain cohorts of patients. We describe a rare case of Aspergillus disease masquerading as a primary lung malignancy. Computer tomography pulmonary angiogram scan demonstrated a right upper lobe 8 x 6.5 cm soft-tissue lesion. Positron emission tomography CT demonstrated this lesion to be intensely fluorodeoxyglucose avid. Initial bronchoscopy demonstrated occluded subsegmental right upper lobe bronchus with white friable material. Follow-up bronchoscopy demonstrated evidence of a previous inflammatory process with cavitation and destruction of sub-lobar bronchial tree. Serial chest radiographs demonstrated almost complete resolution of the right upper lobe mass. Thus, this presentation of an Aspergillus-related lung mass masquerading as a primary lung malignancy provided several important learning points pertaining to diagnosis and ensuing management.
Original language | English |
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Article number | rjaa169 |
Journal | Journal of Surgical Case Reports |
Volume | 2020 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 14 Jul 2020 |
Keywords
- Aspergillosis
- Bronchoscopy
- Lung cancer
- Malignancy
- Positron emission tomography—CT (PET-CT)