title: Cavitary alveolar sarcoidosis complicated by an aspergilloma.
abstract: Cavitation in pulmonary sarcoidosis is rather unusual and even rarer in the alveolar form of the disease. A review of the literature revealed only 13 documented patients with cavitating alveolar sarcoidosis. Of the 13 patients, clinical information was available in only eight cases. Aspergilloma complicating cavitary alveolar sarcoidosis has been documented only once before. A 38-year-old woman with progressive dyspnoea for 3 years presented owing to a bout of haemoptysis. Imaging prior to presentation demonstrated mediastinal lymphadenopathy and coalescent parenchymal alveolar opacities along with air bronchograms, suggestive of alveolar sarcoidosis. On presentation, cavitations were visible in both lungs within the consolidation along with an intracavitary mass in the left upper lobe, which on evaluation was recognised as an aspergilloma. Bronchoscopy disclosed non-caseating granulomas on histopathology confirming pulmonary sarcoidosis. Cavitary alveolar sarcoidosis with aspergilloma formation can result in a diagnostic dilemma, especially in endemic tuberculous areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gera
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Chandramani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panjabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Devijyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055732:Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011239:Prednisolone