Invasive aspergillosis involving the thoracic aorta: CT appearance.

Invasive aspergillosis in the aortic arch with infectious Aspergillus lesions in pulmonary bullae

“…The observation that the pulmonary bullae were filled with blood at autopsy suggested that the source of bleeding in our case was the hole in the aortic wall, through which massive hemoptysis occurred due to the connection between the systemic circulation and the airway. A previous report has also described massive hemoptysis due to a thoracic aorta infected with Aspergillus [4] . However, a case with bleeding other than massive hemoptysis due to a hole in the descending aorta invaded by Aspergillus fumigatus has also been described [19] .…”

“…Aortic infection by Aspergillus has been described in patients with hematologic disorders, including mycotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta [1] , rupture of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm [2] , occlusion of the aortic arch [3] , a polypoid mass within the lumen of the descending aorta [4] , and a mycotic sinus of Valsalva pseudoaneurysm [6] . In cases with a mycotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, occlusion of the aortic arch, and a polypoid mass within the lumen of the descending aorta, patients had neutropenia and developed pulmonary Aspergillus infection [1] , [3] , and the pulmonary lesions invaded the aorta directly.…”

Unusual radiological presentation and rapid fatal progression of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in an immunocompetent young patient

“…The usual clinical presentations are those of a necrotizing pneumonia although rarely invasions of other thoracic structures like pericardium 10 and the aorta 11 have been described. Massive haemoptysis is a rare presenting feature and has been reported previously only in elderly patients.…”

Endovascular Repair as a Bridge to Open Repair of a Ruptured Descending Thoracic Aspergillus Aortitis

“…A patient with aortic rupture after pulmonary infection has also been reported [3,4]. CTA allows a precise description of the arterial lesions, whereas positron emission tomography-computed tomography allows the distinction between infected aortic areas and underlying arterial disease [5]. Diagnosis of Aspergillus infection requires histologic evidence of compatible hyphae and isolation of the fungus by culture from a normally sterile site, according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/ Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group [6].…”