Pulmonary Aspergillosis due to Aspergillus terreus var. Africanu

Abstract

Letters to the EditorPulmonary Aspergillosis due to Aspergillus terreus var. Africanu B. CorrinMD, FRCPath B. Corrin Department of Pathology, National Heart & Lung Institute, Brompton Hospital, London SW3 6LY, United Kingdom Search for more papers by this author Published Online:1 Nov 1990https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.1990.669SectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AboutIntroductionTo the Editor: In their article on pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus terreus var. africanus, El Saghir et al [1] are largely concerned with the unusual species involved and make little of the type of disease, but they do refer to the radiographic appearances as being characteristic of Aspergillus mycetoma. This is true, but a ball-like mass freely movable within a cavity is also characteristic of a particular form of invasive aspergillosis, one that has been termed chronic necrotizing or semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis [2,3]. An aspergilloma represents saprophytic colonization of a preformed cavity and generally develops in an otherwise immunocompetent individual. The patient reported was immunocompromised by leukemia and the authors witnessed the development of cavities from opacities that were at first quite solid. It is clear, therefore, that their patient suffered from chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis rather than multiple aspergillomas. Had they been able to examine the ball-like lesions, they would have found them to represent sequestra of dead lung tissue heavily impregnated with fungus rather than huge pure colonies of the fungus [4]. Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis carries a high mortality [4] and El Saghir et al are to be congratulated on the successful treatment of their patient's lung disease.ARTICLE REFERENCES:1. El Saghir NS, Al-Hedaithy SS, Hawass ND, et al.. "Pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus terreus var. Africanus in acute leukemia: report of a case and review of the literature" . Ann Saudi Med. 1989; 9:497-501. Google Scholar2. Gefter WB, Weingrad TR, Epstein DM, et al.. "“Semi-invasive“ pulmonary aspergillosis: a new look at the spectrum of Aspergillus infections of the lung" . Radiology. 1981; 140:313-21. Google Scholar3. Binder RE, Faling LJ, Pugatch RD, et al.. "Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis: a discrete clinical entity" . Medicine (Baltimore). 1982; 61:109-24. Google Scholar4. Wiggins J, Clark TJH, Corrin B. "Chronic necrotizing pneumonia caused by Aspergillus niger" . Thorax. 1989; 44:440-1. Google Scholar Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 10, Issue 6November 1990 Metrics History Published online1 November 1990 InformationCopyright © 1990, Annals of Saudi MedicinePDF download