Abdominal aspergillosis: CT findings.
OBJECTIVE
In order to retrospectively evaluate the CT findings of abdominal aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients.


METHODS
CT scans were reviewed with regard to the sites, number, morphologic appearance, attenuation, and the contrast enhancement patterns of the lesions in six patients (5 women, 1 man; mean age, 43.4 years; range, 23-59 years) with pathologically proved abdominal aspergillosis by two gastrointestinal radiologists in consensus. Medical records were also reviewed to determine each patient's clinical status and outcome.


RESULTS
All patients were immunocompromised state: 4 patients received immunosuppressive therapy for solid organ transplantation and 2 patients received chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Aspergillosis involved blood vessels (n = 3), liver (n = 2), spleen (n = 2), gastrointestinal tract (n = 2), native kidney (n = 1), transplanted kidney (n = 1), peritoneum (n = 1), and retroperitoneum (n = 1). CT demonstrated solid organ or bowel infarction or perforation secondary to vascular thrombosis or pseudoaneurysm, multiple low-attenuating lesions of solid organs presenting as abscesses, concentric bowel wall thickening mimicking typhlitis, or diffuse or nodular infiltration of the peritoneum and retroperitoneum.


CONCLUSIONS
Familiarity with findings commonly presenting as angioinvasive features or abscesses on CT, may facilitate the diagnosis of rare and fatal abdominal aspergillosis.
Yeom
Suk Keu
SK
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Poongnap2-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea. pagoda20@hanmail.net
Kim
Hye Jin
HJ
Byun
Jae Ho
JH
Kim
Ah Young
AY
Lee
Moon-Gyu
MG
Ha
Hyun Kwon
HK
D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult