A case of endobronchial aspergilloma.

Pulmonary aspergillosis presents as the following three differe nt types depending on the immune status of the host: invasive aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and aspergilloma. Aspergilloma develops as a result of an aspergillus growth inside a pre-existing lung cavi ty. However, endobronchial aspergilloma without a lung parenchymal lesion is quite rare. We encountered a case of endo bronchial aspergilloma that developed in a healthy 75 year-old woman that led to necrotizing pneumonia of the right lower lobe. The chief complaints were fever, cough and yellowish sputum. The chest film revealed haziness with cavity- like shadows on the right lower lobe, and the chest CT scan showed endobronchial calcified density in the basal bronch us of the right lower lobe with peribronchial lymph node enlargement. Bronchoscopy revealed an obstruction of the basal orifice of the right lower lobe by blackish stone-like material, and the aspergilloma was confirmed by the bronchoscop ic biopsy. The pneumonia improved after bronchoscopic removal of this lesion. We report this case along with a review of the relevant literature.(Tuberc Respir Dis 2006; 61: 60-64)Key words: Endobronchial aspergilloma, Bronchoscopy.Adress for correspondence : Kye Young Lee, M.D.Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Hospital School of Medicine, Konkuk University 4-12, Hwayang-Dong, Gwangjin- Gu, Sesoul, 143-914, KoreaPhone : 82-2-2030-7521Fax : 82-2-2030-7748E-mail : kyleemd@kuh.ac.krReceived : Apr. 18. 2006Accepted : Jun. 20. 2006