Invasive tracheal aspergillosis after chemoradiotherapy treatment

Abstract

Invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis is a rare disease with most reported cases in the literature occurring in immunocompromised hosts. We report an unusual case of a patient with persistent cough and dyspnoea in the context of prior chemoradiotherapy for primary lung cancer. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an abnormal soft tissue mass surrounding the trachea and carina, with focal moderate fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) activity on positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Bronchoscopic biopsy revealed fungal hyphae associated with necrosis and cartilage invasion, subsequently confirmed to be Aspergillus fumigatus complex. The patient was commenced on antifungal therapy promptly and had a good clinical response to treatment.