Spinal aspergillus abscess in a patient with bronchocentric granulomatosis.
Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae is often found in the lung tissue of patients with bronchocentric granulomatosis (BCG). This organism is believed to be one agent responsible for inciting the hypersensitivity response and subsequent development of the characteristic pathology that defines BCG. The definitive etiology of this disease, however, remains conjectural. Corticosteroids represent the mainstay of therapy. The fungi recovered from patients with BCG are considered noninvasive; thus, the risk of fungal invasion secondary to steroid-induced immunosuppression is believed to be negligible. However, we report a case of spinal aspergillus abscess that developed in a patient with BCG subsequent to steroid therapy. This case also highlights the necessity for aggressive medical and neurosurgical intervention to avert the development of neurological sequelae.
Collier
J
J
Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Wolfe
R
R
Lerner
R
R
Nathan
S
S
Mohsenifar
Z
Z
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae