title: Pleuro-pulmonary aspergillosis. US and US-guided biopsy as an aid to diagnosis.
abstract: We reviewed the US findings and the diagnostic yield of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for cytologic and microbiologic samples in 4 patients with pulmonary or pleural aspergillosis. All 3 apical Aspergillus abscesses were round, hypoechoic with irregular margins and one contained echo-densities with shadowing consistent with air. One pleural empyema was oval and hypoechoic. Cytology suggested inflammation in all cases and Aspergillus hyphae were detected in 2 of 4 aspirates. Culture of the aspirate was positive for Aspergillus in 3 of 4 cases, while one diagnosis was made after surgery. No complications occurred. Apico-pleural Aspergillus lesions are suitable targets for US-guided FNAB, thus avoiding more invasive methods. Our results suggest wider use of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Keski-Pohjanmaa Central Hospital, Kokkola, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tikkakoski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lohela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Päivänsalo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography