Necrotizing Aspergillosis of large airways: CT findings in eight patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the CT findings of pathologically proven necrotizing aspergillosis of the large airways (necrotizing Aspergillus bronchitis).


METHODS
Medical records and imaging studies from two tertiary medical centers were reviewed for pathologically proven cases of necrotizing aspergillosis of the large airways. Fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination and CT scans of the chest were available in all cases. Two thoracic radiologists who were blinded to the clinical and pathologic data reviewed the thoracic CT scans retrospectively and reached a final decision. The CT images were evaluated for the presence, distribution, and extent of CT findings.


RESULTS
The study included eight patients, seven men and one woman, ranging in age from 28 to 67 years (mean age 46 years). All patients had histopathologically proved necrotizing Aspergillus of the large airways and no other superimposed infections. Six patients had leukemia, one had chronic liver disease, and one had chronic obstructive lung disease. All patients had bronchial wall thickening and focal bronchial narrowing involving a lobar or segmental bronchus. The bronchial narrowing was irregular or nodular in seven patients and smooth in one. Atelectasis distal to a narrowed bronchus was present in five patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The CT findings of necrotizing bronchial aspergillosis include bronchial wall thickening, which is often nodular, and narrowing of the bronchial lumen, which is often associated with distal atelectasis.
Franquet
Tomás
T
Department of Radiology, Hospital de Sant Pau, Avda Sant Antoni Ma Claret, Barcelona, Spain. 19429tfc@comb.es
Serrano
Félix
F
Giménez
Ana
A
Rodríguez-Arias
José Manuel
JM
Puzo
Carmen
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001995:Bronchography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed