Invasive aspergillosis involving the lungs and brain after short period of steroid injection: A case report

Abstract

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has emerged as a severe infection in patients with immunocompromised hosts. However, recently, several IPA cases, without an apparent predisposition to immunodeficiency, has been reported. A 72-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of general weakness and poor oral intake. She reported no medical history, except for intraarticular injection of a corticosteroid for joint pain for the duration of two months. A chest radiography revealed multiple cavitary nodules in both lungs. Examination of specimens, obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy, led to a diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. Brain magnetic resonance imagining revealed numerous peripheral thin enhancing cystic nodules in both cerebral hemispheres. We initiated intravenous administration of amphotercin B. However, the patient died after nine days. Here, we report an invasive aspergillosis case, which involves the lungs and brain after a short period of steroid injection. Copyright©2012. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.