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Total splenic infarct due to Aspergillus and AIDS
1Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, 676 North St. Clair Street Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. fmiller@northwestern.edu
Clinical Imaging
|May 23, 2001
Summary
Invasive aspergillosis, a serious fungal infection, can cause spleen and brain damage in AIDS patients. This case highlights a rare presentation of Aspergillus infection leading to splenic infarction and septic brain emboli.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
- Immunocompromised Hosts
Background:
- Invasive aspergillosis is a significant cause of illness and death in individuals with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- Pulmonary involvement is the most common manifestation of invasive aspergillosis.
- Extrapulmonary disease, particularly splenic involvement, is infrequent.
Observation:
- A patient with AIDS presented with a rare complication of invasive aspergillosis.
- The patient developed total splenic infarction, a condition where the entire spleen becomes necrotic.
- Septic emboli, which are blood clots carrying infection, were observed to have spread to the brain.
Findings:
- This case describes the first instance of total splenic infarction due to Aspergillus infection.
- The findings demonstrate a novel extrapulmonary manifestation of invasive aspergillosis in an AIDS patient.
- The spread of septic emboli to the brain indicates a severe systemic dissemination of the fungal infection.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of the potential extrapulmonary sites affected by invasive aspergillosis.
- It underscores the importance of considering unusual presentations in immunocompromised patients.
- Early recognition and treatment of disseminated Aspergillus infections are critical for improving outcomes in AIDS patients.