Invasive aspergillosis in a case of suspected lung mass

Abstract

Aspergillosis is caused by the fungus Aspergillus, which is commonly found in nature but only rarely causes illness in people. The aspergilli may cause an invasive disease in immunocompromised patients and in patients with hematological malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplants, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, as well as use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs. Aspergillosis is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, flavus and less commonly by A terreus, nidulans and niger. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent fungal pathogen responsible for fatal invasive aspergillosis. The most common portal of entry is the respiratory system [1]. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is the most serious type of aspergillosis infection. It can affect any organ, particularly the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys. The central nervous system is one of the most frequent involvements of invasive aspergillosis besides the lungs. The infections mostly occur through hematogenous dissemination from a focus, such as lung infection. We report here a case where the decedent died of disseminated angioinvasive aspergillosis involving lung and brain, where initial diagnosis was a lung mass of unknown etiology.