[A case of endobronchial aspergilloma]

Infections caused by Aspergillus spp. in immunocompromised or atopic patients may present as invasive aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and aspergilloma. In this report a 69 years old female patient admitted to the hospital with the complaints of intermittent cough and sputum and diagnosed as endonbronchial aspergilloma, has been presented. The patient was not immunocompromised, however she has bronchial asthma for 10 years and the disease is now under control. The chest radiography and computed tomography revealed lung infiltration with undefined borders, and bronchoscopy demonstrated the presence of a mass at left lower lobe. In the pathologic examination of biopsy specimen with the use of methenamine silver and PAS methods, hyphae formations concordant with Aspergillus were detected. The direct microscopic examinations of biopsy material and sputum obtained after bronchoscopy, have also revealed the presence of hyphae. A. fumigatus was isolated from the cultures of biopsy material and sputum specimen. The patient was diagnosed as endonbronchial aspergilloma, however the follow-up was failed since she has not accepted medical or surgical treatment. In conclusion, aspergilloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions in the endobronchial area.