Aspergilloma (patient information)
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For more patient information about aspergillosis and other diseases caused by Aspergillus, click here.
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Aspergilloma |
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Aspergilloma On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]
Overview
Pulmonary aspergilloma is a mass caused by a fungal infection that usually grows in lung cavities. It can also appear in the brain, kidney, or other organs.
What are the symptoms of Aspergilloma?
Many patients have no symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they can include:
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Coughing up blood or hemoptysis
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Unintentional weight loss
What causes Aspergilloma?
Aspergillomas are formed when the fungus aspergillus grows in a clump in a lung cavity, or invades previously healthy tissue, causing an abscess.
Aspergillus is a common fungus. It grows on dead leaves, stored grain, bird droppings, compost piles, and other decaying vegetation. Cavities in the lung may have been caused by:
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
- Blood test for presence of aspergillus in the body (galactomannan)
- Blood test to detect antibodies to aspergillus (serum precipitins for aspergillus)
- Bronchoscopy or bronchoscopy with lavage
- Chest CT
- Chest x-ray
- Sputum culture
When to seek urgent medical care?
See your health care provider if you cough up blood, and mention any other symptoms that have developed.
Treatment options
Many patients never develop symptoms. Often, no treatment is needed, unless you are coughing up blood.
Occasionally, antifungal medications may be used.
Sometimes, injecting dye into the blood vessels (angiography) may be used to find the site of bleeding. The bleeding is stopped by shooting tiny pellets into the bleeding vessel.
Surgery is often the only choice if there is life-threatening bleeding.
Where to find medical care for Aspergilloma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Condition
Prevention
People who have had related lung infections or who have weakened immune systems should try to avoid environments where the aspergillus fungus is found.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The outcome can be good in many patients. However, it depends on the severity of the condition and your overall health.
Surgery may be very successful in some cases, but it is complex and can have a high risk of serious complications.
Possible complications
- Difficulty breathing that gets worse
- Massive bleeding from the lung
- Spread of the infection (see acute invasive aspergillosis)