Pulmonary aspergilloma: clinical aspects and surgical treatment outcome.
Aspergillomas are fungal balls within lung cavities. The natural history is variable. Hemoptysis is a dangerous sequela. Medical therapy is ineffective because of the lack of a lesion blood supply. Randomized trials are lacking. Surgery should be the treatment of choice in cases of hemoptysis, and even in asymptomatic patients, if lung function is not severely compromised. Cavernostomy and cavernoplasty may be options for high-risk patients. Percutaneous therapy should be reserved for patients who are not fit for surgery. Bronchial artery embolization is appropriate for symptomatic patients not suitable for surgery. Embolization could be considered a preoperative and temporary strategy.
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital, via Gavazzeni, 21, 24123 Bergamo, Italy. eliseo.passera@gavazzeni.it
Eliseo
E
Passera
Adriano
A
Rizzi
Mario
M
Robustellini
Gerolamo
G
Rossi
Claudio
C
Della Pona
Fabio
F
Massera
Gaetano
G
Rocco
D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D055732:Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome