Skip to main content

Aspergilloma

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Springer Surgery Atlas Series ((SPRISURGERY))

Abstract

Pulmonary aspergilloma is defined as a thick-walled cavity surrounded by lung which contains an aspergillus fungus ball. These organisms typically form a fungus ball (or mycetoma) within pre-existing lung cavities. The fungus ball itself is composed of Aspergillus hyphae, fibrin, mucus, and cellular debris. Chronic inflammation within and around the cavity can lead to hemoptysis, ranging from mild to massive. Aspergilloma can be categorized into simple and complex forms based upon the radiographic appearance. Efficacy of medical therapy alone for an aspergilloma is poor, and surgical therapy provides the best chance for cure. Surgical options include formal anatomic lung resection, or a technique termed cavernostomy involving localized thoracostomy, pneumotomy and evacuation of the mycetoma. Complication and mortality rates have improved dramatically in modern series.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Selected Bibliography

  • Brik A, Salem AM, Kamal AR, Abdel-Sadek M, Essa M, El Sharawy M et al. (2008) Surgical outcome of pulmonary aspergilloma. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 34(4):882–5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2008.06.049. Epub 2008 Aug 12. PMID:18701313

  • Cesar JM, Resende JS, Amaral NF, Alves CM, Vilhena AF, Silva FL (2011) Cavernostomy x resection for pulmonary aspergilloma: a 32-year history. J Cardiothorac Surg. 6:129. doi: 10.1186/1749-8090-6-129. PMID:21974978

  • Chen JC, Chang YL, Luh SP, Lee JM, Lee YC (1997) Surgical treatment for pulmonary aspergilloma: a 28 year experience. Thorax 52:810–813

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daly RC, Pairolero PC, Piehler JM, Trastek VF, Payne WS, Bernatz PE (1986) Pulmonary aspergilloma: results of surgical treatment. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 92:981–988

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Denning DW, Riniotis K, Dobrashian R, Sambatakou H (2003) Chronic cavitary and fibrosing pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis: case series, proposed nomenclatur change, and review. Clin Infect Dis 37(Suppl 3):S265

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • el Oakley R, Petrou M, Goldstraw P (1997) Indications and outcome of surgery or pulmonary aspergilloma. Thorax 52:813–815

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garvey J, Crastnopol P, Weisz D, Khan F (1977) The surgical treatment of pulmonary aspergillomas. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 74:542–547

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gebitekin C, Sami Bayram A, Akin S (2005) Complex pulmonary aspergilloma treated with single stage cavernostomy and myoplasty. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 27(5):737–40. PMID: 15848306

    Google Scholar 

  • Grima R, Krassas A, Bagan P, Badia A, Le Pimpec Barthes F, Riquet M (2009) Treatment of complicated pulmonary aspergillomas with cavernostomy and muscle flap: interest of concomitant limited thoracoplasty. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 36(5):910–3. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2009.05.007. PMID:19595606

  • Henderson RD, Deslaurier J, Ritcey EL, Delarue NC, Pearson FG (1975) Surgery in pulmonary aspergillosis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 70:1088–1092

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jewkes J, Kay PH, Paneth M, Citron KM (1983) Pulmonary aspergilloma: analysis of prognosis in relation to haemoptysis and survey of treatment. Thorax 38:572–578

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karas A, Hankins JR, Attar S, Miller JE, McLaughlin JS (1976) Pulmonary aspergillosis: an analysis of 41 patients. Ann Thorac Surg 22:1–7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lejay A, Falcoz PE, Santelmo N, Helms O, Kochetkova E, Jeung M et al. (2011) Surgery for aspergilloma: time trend towards improved results? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 13(4):392–5. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2011.265553. Epub 2011 Jul 5. PMID:21729950

  • Uflacker R, Kaemmerer A, Neves C, Picon PD (1983) Management of massive hemoptysis by bronchial artery embolization. Radiology 146:627–634

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh TJ, Anaissie EJ, Denning DW, Herbrecht R, Kontoyiannis DP, Marr KA et al (2008) Treatment of aspergillosis: clinical Practice guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis 46:327–360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John D. Mitchell MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Babu, A.N., Mitchell, J.D. (2015). Aspergilloma. In: Dienemann, H., Hoffmann, H., Detterbeck, F. (eds) Chest Surgery. Springer Surgery Atlas Series. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12044-2_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12044-2_26

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-12043-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-12044-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics