title: Aspergillus-related lung disease.
abstract: Aspergillus is a ubiquitous dimorphic fungus that causes a variety of human diseases ranging in severity from trivial to life-threatening, depending on the host response. An intact host defence is important to prevent disease, but individuals with pre-existing structural lung disease, atopy, occupational exposure or impaired immunity are susceptible. Three distinctive patterns of aspergillus-related lung disease are recognized: saprophytic infestation of airways, cavities and necrotic tissue; allergic disease including extrinsic allergic alveolitis, asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, bronchocentric granulomatosis and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia; and airway and tissue invasive disease -- pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis, acute bronchopneumonia, angioinvasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing aspergillosis and invasive pleural disease. A broad knowledge of these clinical presentations and a high index of suspicion are required to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of the potentially lethal manifestations of aspergillus-related pulmonary disease. In the present report, the clinical, radiographic and pathological aspects of the various aspergillus-related lung diseases are briefly reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Amiri Hospital, Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Alawi
authors.forename: C Frank
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Julia D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.forename: Nestor L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology