Invasive Aspergillosis Masquerading as Multiple Pulmonary Nodules: A Challenging Diagnosis

Authors

Mamta Chhabria, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Sharini Venugopal, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Venkata Satish Pendela, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Nagesh Jadhav, Rochester Regional HealthFollow

Department

Internal Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an aggressive fungal infection of the lungs characterized by tissue invasion by fungal hyphal elements. The definitive diagnosis is challenging because it relies on histopathological demonstration of fungal elements, and these days clinicians are relying more on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures and serum biomarkers (galactomannan and beta-D-glucan). We would like to emphasize through our case the necessity to keep a high index of suspicion for IPA despite negative cultures and serum biomarkers in immunosuppressed patients and consider surgical biopsy early.

First Page

e8186

DOI

10.7759/cureus.8186

Volume

12

Issue

5

Publication Date

5-18-2020

PubMed ID

32566427

Recommended Citation

Chhabria, M., Venugopal, S., Pendela, V. S., & Jadhav, N. (2020). Invasive Aspergillosis Masquerading as Multiple Pulmonary Nodules: A Challenging Diagnosis. Cureus, 12 (5), e8186. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8186