Pulmonary aspergilloma
Fungus ball; Mycetoma; Aspergilloma; Aspergillosis - pulmonary aspergillomaPulmonary aspergilloma is a mass caused by a fungal infection. It usually grows in lung cavities. The infection can also appear in the brain, kidney, or other organs.
Causes
Aspergillosis is an infection caused by the fungus aspergillus. Aspergillomas are formed when the fungus grows in a clump in a lung cavity. The cavity is often created by a previous condition. Cavities in the lung may be caused by diseases such as:
Aspergillosis
Aspergillosis is an infection or allergic response due to the aspergillus fungus.
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Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs. It may spread to other organs.
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Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis
Valley fever is an infection that occurs when the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter your body through the lungs.
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Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of th...
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Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is an infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.
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- Lung cancer
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Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.
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The most common species of fungus that causes disease in humans is Aspergillus fumigatus.
Aspergillus is a common fungus. It grows on dead leaves, stored grain, bird droppings, compost piles, and other decaying vegetation.
Symptoms
You may not have symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they can include:
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Chest pain
Chest pain
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.
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Coughing up blood, which can be a life-threatening sign
Coughing up blood
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...
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- Fever
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Unintentional weight loss
Unintentional weight loss
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...
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Exams and Tests
Your health care provider may suspect you have a fungal infection after x-rays of your lungs show the ball of fungus. Other tests that may be done include:
- Biopsy of lung tissue
- Blood test for presence of aspergillus in the body (galactomannan)
- Blood test to detect immune response to aspergillus (specific antibodies for aspergillus)
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Bronchoscopy or bronchoscopy with lavage
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.
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Chest CT
Chest CT
A chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....
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Sputum culture
Sputum culture
Routine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when y...
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Treatment
Many people never develop symptoms. Often, no treatment is needed, unless you are coughing up blood.
Sometimes, antifungal medicines may be used.
If you have bleeding in the lungs, your provider may recommend a test to inject dye into the blood vessels (angiography) to find the site of bleeding. The bleeding is stopped by either:
- Surgery to remove the aspergilloma
- Procedure that inserts material into the blood vessels to stop the bleeding (embolization)
Embolization
Endovascular embolization is a procedure to treat abnormal blood vessels in the brain and other parts of the body. It is an alternative to open surg...
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Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome can be good in many people. However, it depends on the severity of the condition and your overall health.
Surgery may be very successful in some cases, but it is complex and can have a high risk of serious complications.
Possible Complications
Complications of pulmonary aspergilloma may include:
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Difficulty breathing that gets worse
Difficulty breathing
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Massive bleeding from the lung
- Spread of the infection
When to Contact a Medical Professional
See your provider if you cough up blood, and be sure to mention any other symptoms that have developed.
Prevention
People who have had related lung infections or who have weakened immune systems should try to avoid environments where the aspergillus fungus is found.
References
Patterson TF, Thompson GR 3rd, Denning DW, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of aspergillosis: 2016 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63(4):e1-e60. PMID: 27365388 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27365388/.
Saullo JL, Alexander BD. Fungal infections: opportunistic. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 57.
Walsh TJ. Aspergillosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 319.
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Lungs - illustration
The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
Lungs
illustration
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Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray - illustration
This x-ray shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the upper right lung (seen as a light area on the left side of the picture). The nodule has distinct borders (well-defined) and is uniform in density. Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases can cause this type of lesion.
Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray
illustration
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Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan - illustration
This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the right lung. This nodule is seen as the light circle in the upper portion of the dark area on the left side of the picture. A normal lung would look completely black in a CT scan.
Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan
illustration
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Aspergilloma - illustration
Aspergillosis is an acute pulmonary infection caused by the aspergillus fungus. Aspergillus can cause illness three ways an allergic reaction in asthmatics, a colonization in scarred lung tissue, and an invasive infection with pneumonia, which can affect the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys.
Aspergilloma
illustration
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Pulmonary aspergillosis - illustration
Aspergillosis is an acute pulmonary infection caused by the aspergillus fungus. Aspergillus can cause illness three ways an allergic reaction in asthmatics; a colonization in scarred lung tissue; and an invasive infection with pneumonia which can affect the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys.
Pulmonary aspergillosis
illustration
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Aspergillosis - chest X-ray - illustration
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection. The fungus invades and destroys tissue. This type of infection usually occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Here, a chest x-ray shows that the fungus has invaded the lung tissue. The lungs are usually seen as black areas on an x-ray. The cloudiness on the left side of this x-ray is caused by the fungus.
Aspergillosis - chest X-ray
illustration
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Respiratory system - illustration
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.
Respiratory system
illustration
-
Lungs - illustration
The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
Lungs
illustration
-
Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray - illustration
This x-ray shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the upper right lung (seen as a light area on the left side of the picture). The nodule has distinct borders (well-defined) and is uniform in density. Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases can cause this type of lesion.
Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray
illustration
-
Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan - illustration
This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the right lung. This nodule is seen as the light circle in the upper portion of the dark area on the left side of the picture. A normal lung would look completely black in a CT scan.
Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan
illustration
-
Aspergilloma - illustration
Aspergillosis is an acute pulmonary infection caused by the aspergillus fungus. Aspergillus can cause illness three ways an allergic reaction in asthmatics, a colonization in scarred lung tissue, and an invasive infection with pneumonia, which can affect the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys.
Aspergilloma
illustration
-
Pulmonary aspergillosis - illustration
Aspergillosis is an acute pulmonary infection caused by the aspergillus fungus. Aspergillus can cause illness three ways an allergic reaction in asthmatics; a colonization in scarred lung tissue; and an invasive infection with pneumonia which can affect the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys.
Pulmonary aspergillosis
illustration
-
Aspergillosis - chest X-ray - illustration
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection. The fungus invades and destroys tissue. This type of infection usually occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Here, a chest x-ray shows that the fungus has invaded the lung tissue. The lungs are usually seen as black areas on an x-ray. The cloudiness on the left side of this x-ray is caused by the fungus.
Aspergillosis - chest X-ray
illustration
-
Respiratory system - illustration
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.
Respiratory system
illustration
Review Date: 9/10/2022
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.