title: [Lung cavities, mycetomas and hemoptysis].
abstract: Pulmonary mycetomas, or fungus balls, consist of spherical masses of mycelia and hyphae, fibrin and granulocytes that grow and partly fill cavitary lesions without invading tissue. They are usually caused by molds of the Aspergillus species, rarely by Mucor or yeast fungi such as Candida species, that colonize damaged lung tissue. Hemoptysis is the most frequent symptom. Since systemic and local administration of antifungal agents is of uncertain efficacy, resectional surgery should be the treatment of choice in cases of severe hemoptysis, if lung function is not severely compromised. As pulmonary resection in the form of lobectomy or pneumonectomy is associated with raised mortality, cavernostomy and cavernoplasty may be options for high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Infektologie und Klinische Abteilung für Pulmonologie, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Osterreich. wolfgang.domej@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Domej
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehrschütz
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flögel
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus; D002175:Candida; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D009089:Mucor; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed