Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Children Presenting as Lung Masses

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction predominantly occurring in patients of asthma and cystic fibrosis. The typical radiological findings in ABPA include central bronchiectasis and fleeting opacities. In this retrospective study, the aim was to describe cases of ABPA in children who had a mass-like lesion in the lung. There were 5 cases of ABPA in children, who presented as mass-like lesions that responded very well to treatment for ABPA. All cases, except 1, had asthma as the underlying disease. There was a delay in the diagnosis of ABPA in all 5 cases. There had been unnecessary invasive investigations in some of these cases before the diagnosis of ABPA was made. To conclude, children with ABPA may present with a mass-like lesion in the lung and high index of suspicion is required to diagnose ABPA timely to prevent its consequences.