Surgical treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis

Abstract

There is controversy about the optimal treatment for pulmonary aspergillosis. Eight patients with pulmonary aspergilloma underwent surgical treatment. Three patients had tuberculosis, one Sjögren syndrome, one aortitis syndrome, one malignant lymphoma. Lobectomy was performed in five patients, segmentectomy in three patients. All patients are alive and have no recurrence. We have obtained excellent results from surgery and advocate early surgery for localized lesions to prevent life-threatening hemoptysis. This will allow patients to continue with further treatment for the underlying disease. We encountered a granulocytopenic patient with rapidly progressive aspergillus infection resulting in occlusion of main pulmonary artery leading to death. Surgical intervention could not prevent this fatal outcome. The selection of the patients with diffuse lesions should be made carefully.