Learn About Pulmonary Aspergilloma
Pulmonary aspergilloma is a mass caused by a fungal infection. It usually grows in lung cavities. The infection can also appear in the brain, kidney, or other organs.
Fungus ball; Mycetoma; Aspergilloma; Aspergillosis - pulmonary aspergilloma
Aspergillosis is an infection caused by the fungus aspergillus. Aspergillomas are formed when the fungus grows in a clump in a lung cavity. The cavity is often created by a previous condition. Cavities in the lung may be caused by diseases such as:
- Tuberculosis
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Histoplasmosis
- Lung abscess
- Lung cancer
- Sarcoidosis
The most common species of fungus that causes disease in humans is Aspergillus fumigatus.
Aspergillus is a common fungus. It grows on dead leaves, stored grain, bird droppings, compost piles, and other decaying vegetation.
You may not have symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they can include:
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Coughing up blood, which can be a life-threatening sign
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Unintentional weight loss
Many people never develop symptoms. Often, no treatment is needed, unless you are coughing up blood.
Sometimes, antifungal medicines may be used.
If you have bleeding in the lungs, your provider may inject dye into the blood vessels (angiography) to find the site of bleeding. The bleeding is stopped by either:
- Surgery to remove the aspergilloma
- Procedure that inserts material into the blood vessels to stop the bleeding (embolization)
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences
Animesh Ray is in Delhi, India. Ray is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Aspergilloma. He is also highly rated in 15 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Aspergilloma, Mucormycosis, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens.
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences
Surabhi Vyas is in New Delhi, India. Vyas is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Aspergilloma. She is also highly rated in 1 other condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Aspergilloma, Pyomyositis, Lump in the Abdomen, and Interstitial Nephritis.
Service De Chirurgie Thoracique
Yassine Ouadnouni is in Fes, Morocco. Ouadnouni is rated as a Distinguished expert by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Aspergilloma. He is also highly rated in 8 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Aspergilloma, Empyema, Echinococcosis, and Hydatidosis.
The outcome can be good in many people. However, it depends on the severity of the condition and your overall health.
Surgery may be very successful in some cases, but it is complex and can have a high risk of serious complications.
Complications of pulmonary aspergilloma may include:
- Difficulty breathing that gets worse
- Massive bleeding from the lung
- Spread of the infection
See your provider if you cough up blood, and be sure to mention any other symptoms that have developed.
People who have had related lung infections or who have weakened immune systems should try to avoid environments where the aspergillus fungus is found.
Horan-Saullo JL, Alexander BD. Opportunistic mycoses. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 38.
Patterson TF, Thompson GR 3rd, Denning DW, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of aspergillosis: 2016 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63(4):e1-e60. PMID: 27365388 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27365388/.
Walsh TJ. Aspergillosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 319.