title: A Rare Case of Aspergillus Pericarditis with Associated Myocardial Abscess and Echocardiographic Response to Therapy.
abstract: Myocardial abscess is an extremely rare entity and is often deadly in nature. We present a case of a patient with recent orthotopic liver transplant, on immunosuppression, who presented with cardiac tamponade due to Aspergillus fumigatus pericarditis and associated myocardial abscess. The diagnosis was made based on computed tomography imaging, culture of pericardial fluid for Aspergillus, and transthoracic echocardiography. The patient received antifungal therapy with clinical improvement and documented reduction in abscess size based on repeat echocardiogram. Aspergillus myocardial abscess is an extremely rare diagnosis but should be considered in an immunosuppressed patient presenting with pericardial effusion or ventricular mass.
authors.affiliation: Heart and Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital System, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kupsky
authors.affiliation: Heart and Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital System, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Khaldoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alaswad
authors.affiliation: Heart and Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital System, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Bobak T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Rabbani
keywords: echocardiography; myocardial abscess; pericarditis; tamponade