[Transformation of the fungus ball type pulmonary aspergillosis].
Though the concept of semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was advocated in 1981 by Gefter et al., its histopathological appearance has not yet been reported in detail. Pathological studies on fungus ball type pulmonary aspergillosis (PA) were originally made mainly in regard to related bronchi. Chronic-progressive destructive changes cannot be completely explained from this viewpoint alone. Clinically, since bloody sputum and hemoptysis appeared frequently, further studies on the pulmonary vasculature were considered necessary. In the resected lungs of 3 cases of semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, the pathological features of pulmonary vasculature were characterized by numerous fungal clots within pulmonary arteries and veins, marked destruction of pulmonary blood vessels and extensive intravascular fibrin deposition. Intravascular fibrin deposition causes stasis of blood flow, promotes intravascular proliferation of aspergilli and probably accelerates pulmonary destruction caused by blood stasis. Important pathological findings of fungus ball type pulmonary aspergillosis of the semi-invasive subtype with clinical aspects of chronic-progressive lung destruction caused by severe inflammation, were reported for both the vascular and the bronchial system.
Nomura
T
T
Department of Thoracic Surgery, International Medical Center of Japan, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan.
Sawazaki
H
H
Saiki
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D005337:Fibrin