Pulmonary Aspergilloma: Causes, Symptoms, Daignosis, Prevention and Treatment

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Pulmonary Aspergilloma
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Pulmonary Aspergilloma

• Pulmonary aspergilloma is a kind of fungal
  infection that is characterized when a fungal
  ball is developed in the lung cavities.
  Typically, older males tend to be affected the
  most by this infection.The cause of pulmonary
  aspergilloma is due to a fungus called
  aspergillus. One of the major risk factor for
  infection is having specific underlying lung
  conditions, like asthma or cystic fibrosis, and a
  weakened immune system.Most individuals with
  pulmonary aspergilloma do not show any
  significant symptoms, meaning they tend to be
  asymptomatic. In others, chest pain, unintended
  weight loss, and blood in cough may be seen.A
  possible complication of pulmonary aspergilloma
  is the spread of infection away from the lungs
  and lung bleeding (pulmonary hemorrhage), which
  can be dangerous.

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What are the causes of pulmonary aspergilloma?

• Pulmonary aspergilloma is caused by a fungus
  called Aspergillus.
• It is formed when the fungus grows in a lung
  cavity, but does not invade the surrounding lung
  tissue
• The most common type of fungus causing pulmonary
  aspergilloma is Aspergillus fumigatus

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How can pulmonary aspergilloma be prevented?

• The following can help prevent Pulmonary
  Aspergilloma
• Try to avoid places where aspergillus is present,
  especially if an individual has underlying lung
  infections or a weak immune system
• Aspergillus is grown on dead leaves, stored
  grains, compost pile, and decaying vegetation.
  Individuals who are living with specific health
  conditions (poor immune systems) should try to
  ignore these areas.

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What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary
aspergilloma?

• Most of the individuals affected by pulmonary
  aspergilloma may not show any symptoms of the
  disease. It can be diagnosed incidentally while
  performing imaging studies for other conditions.
  Some of the individuals may show the following
  signs and symptoms
• Chest pain
• Cough with or without any sputum (phlegm)
• Blood in cough
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fever
• Tiredness/fatigue

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How is pulmonary aspergilloma diagnosed?

• Mostly pulmonary aspergilloma is diagnosed as an
  incidental finding, as many individuals do not
  show any symptoms. The doctor might order the
  following tests and examinations to assist and
  confirm the diagnosis
• Blood tests To detect antibodies specific to
  Aspergillus fungus
• Chest X-ray
• CT scan of the chest
• Sputum culture and microscopy
• Biopsy of lung tissue with culture studies
• Bronchoscopy with cultures of bronchial washings
• Many clinical conditions may have similar signs
  and symptoms. Your doctor may perform additional
  tests to rule out other clinical conditions to
  arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

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How can pulmonary aspergilloma be treated?

• Most of the individuals who are affected with
  pulmonary aspergilloma do not develop any
  significant symptoms, and hence, no treatment may
  be required.Also, the fungal ball in the lung
  remains of the same size in a majority of the
  cases. Sometimes, it may also regress or resolve
  spontaneously without any treatment.In others,
  the following treatment measures may be
  considered
• If the individual is coughing-up blood, treatment
  is necessary
• The individual might require emergency
  resuscitation by fluid and blood components, if
  the bleeding is large and severe
• Anti-fungal medications can be used
• Surgical treatment of the affected cavity and
  extraction of the fungal ball can be considered
  in case of severe or recurrent bleeding.

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