title: Invasive epiglottic aspergillosis: A case report and literature review.
abstract: Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised hosts and occurs most frequently in the lungs. Invasive laryngeal aspergillosis is extremely rare. Due to the potential progression of invasive aspergillosis, antifungal therapy must be started immediately in cases involving clinical suspicion of the disease. A 65-year-old male with agranulocytosis complained of sore throat and dysphagia. His epiglottis was covered with caseating granulomatous lesions and the tissue was easily disrupted. A histopathological examination showed an aggressive invasion of Aspergillus species and cartilage destruction. Therefore, we made a diagnosis of primary invasive epiglottic aspergillosis. The invasive aspergillosis resolved with antifungal therapy and an increase in neutrophils. It is therefore necessary to include invasive laryngeal aspergillosis in the differential diagnosis when encountering immunocompromised patients presenting with laryngeal granulomatous lesions and laryngitis-like symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan. Electronic address: o_1043_toshi32_dragons@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Bunya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuze
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yatsuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Agranulocytosis; Invasive aspergillosis; Laryngeal aspergillosis; Laryngeal granulomatous diseases