Pulmonary aspergilloma resulting from colonization of Aspergillus fumigatus is potentially lifethreatening disease due to massive hemoptysis.
Between August 1990 and November 1993, twelve patients were operated for the treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma. The mean age was 38.8 years.
All patients and had underlying cavitary lung disease, and the tuberculosis is the most common cause. Ten patients have experienced hemoptysis, but the clinical presentation of hemoptysis at the time of operation was mostly intermittent and
scanty.
Operative procedures were segmentectomy in 1 patient.
Lobectomy in 8, pneumonectomy in 2, and pleuropneumonectomy in 1, There were three complications, bronchopleural fistula in one patient and prolonged air leak in 2. There was no postoperative death.
Conclusively, our results suggest that established aspergilloma associated with tuberculosis or other cavitary lesions should undergo early elective pulmonary resection, even though it has only minimal hemoptysis. (Korean J Thoracic Cardiovas
Surg
1993;26:775-80)
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