Fatal Case of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis and Tuberculosis: A Case Report from an University Hospital in Colombia

Abstract

BackgroundThe term aspergillosis from a clinical point of view includes allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, invasive forms of the airway, cutaneous and extrapulmonary aspergillosis and finally chronic non-invasive or semi-invasive pulmonary forms. All of them produced by different species of Aspergillus. In addition, the presentation of aspergillosis together with tuberculosis are rare in scientific literature. We report a case of Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and tuberculosis in a 72-year-old man Case presentation The patient is a 72-year-old man who was admitted with a 2-year history of constitutional syndrome, dry cough and moderate exertion dyspnea. Chest X-ray showed a rounded mass in the upper lobe of the left lung surrounded by radiolucent areas that suggest cavitations. Computed tomography with chest contrast revealed "tree in bud" pattern in the upper right and middle lobe and lesions of a cystic appearance with the presence of multiple masses with a density of soft tissues. Bronchioalveolar lavage analyses demonstrate Aspergillus fumigatusConclusionsChronic cavity aspergillosis is an uncommon form characterized by cavitation, fibrosis and pleural thickening seen in immunocompetent or mildly immunocompromised patients with chronic respiratory diseases, especially TB.