Date: 26 November 2013
Born 75 years ago, Pt HK had 3 episodes of tuberculosis as a child and teenager, being treated with PAS and streptomycin. He suffered a ‘bad chest’ all his life and retired aged 54. Presenting with worsening and more frequent chest infections, he was referred with ‘bronchiectasis and Aspergillus sensitisation’. A diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis was made in June 2009 on the basis of his chest radiograph and strongly positive Aspergillus precipitins (IgG antibodies) (titre 1/16). He also had Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonisation. His oxygen saturation was 87% and his pO2 6.8, pCO2 6.2 KPa.
His chest radiograph (see above, November 2009) was reported as showing; “ The lung fields are over-inflated. Bilateral apical fibrotic change secondary to old TB. No cavity seen.” At clinic, bilateral apical cavities were seen, with some associated pleural thickening at the left apex, without any evidence of a fungal ball.
He started posaconazole 400mg twice daily with therapeutic levels at subsequent visits. Sputum cultures never grew Aspergillus. Over the following 9 months he had no chest infections requiring antibiotics, his breathlessness worsened gradually and he remained easily fatigued. His Aspergillus antibody titres fell. Overall he felt better, but was concerned about declining respiratory status.
Copyright:
Fungal Research Trust
Notes: n/a
Images library
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Image A. Scan shows large bore needle in one of the cavities on the right. The contrast media is mixed with amphotericin B and is whiter than surrounding lung tissue and fungal ball. The contrast surrounds the aspergilloma present in this cavity. Some of the contrast has fallen by gravity in another cavity anteriorly below the one being injected, showing communication between the cavities.
Image B. Scan showing contrast media mixed with amphotericin B injected into a multicystic cavity in the right upper lobe. The contrast (white) flows around the aspergilloma present in this cavity. The contrast falls by gravity posteriorly.
Image C. The opposite lung shows multiple empty cystic spaces with little normal lung.
Image D. There is substantial pleural thickening surrounding the irregular cavity containing the aspergilloma.
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Extensive multilobar, varicose bronchiectasis, with some cyst formation most marked on the left anteriorly. Also some inhomogeneity of the pulmonary parenchyma secondary to air trapping in several affected segments.
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CT scans of thorax. Anterior left-sided bronchiectasis with extensive mucous plugging and with some proximal bronchiectasis and plugging on the right.
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Bilateral multilobar varicose bronchiectasis affecting the segmental and small order bronchi, with some distal plugging.
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T1 weighted, gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance brain scan. This 43 year-old alcoholic woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in January 2001. Ten days after surgery, she became confused, dysphasic and eventually had tonic-clonic seizures. A CT scan showed non-communicating hydrocephalus with ventriculitis. She underwent many complicated neurosurgical interventions, and received long term broad-spectrum antimicrobials and dexamethasone. One month later, she had generalized seizures, and a large abscess was observed on scan (see images). A heavy growth of A. fumigatus was retrieved from the abscess, and amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine were started. Antifungal therapy was changed voriconazole due to intolerance to amphotericin B and worsening disorientation. Voriconazole dosing (which varied from 300mg to 100mg twice daily) was guided by plasma concentrations as enzyme induction with rifampicin and carbamazepine, and reduction in clearance with alcoholic liver disease complicated her voriconazole dosing. Steroids were gradually reduced. She had a good recovery and completed 9 months of voriconazole.
Despite air filtration in the operating rooms, she apparently acquired an intra-operative infection, probably accelerated in presentation by concurrent dexamethasone. Rapid diagnosis and optimization of voriconazole dosing lead to a good outcome.
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Allergic Broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis. Pt CT. Extensive severe saccular bronchiectasis of the left lower lobe and to a lesser extent of the left upper and right lower lobe.
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Ct scan of chest. This patient with severe ABPA, serologically and radiologically, developed a spectrum of lesions in the lung. In this cut, a cavitating infiltrate in the anterior segment of the left upper lobe was visualised together with some bronchial thickening and bronchiectasis in the left upper and lower lobe.
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