Infect Chemother.  2004 Feb;36(1):54-58.

A Case of Fatal Tracheobronchial Aspergillosis in a Neutropenic Patient

• Kwon JC
• Song MJ
• Kim KJ
• Oh YK
• Kim SY
• Park SH
• Choi SM
• Lee DG
• Lee S
• Shin WS
• Kim CC

Abstract

Tracheobronchial aspergillosis is an uncommon clinical form of invasive aspergillosis, particularly found in patients with AIDS and in lung transplant recipients than in other immunocompromised patients. The rapidity of the disease progression can result in fatal airway obstruction in a short period of time that the patient may need emergency tracheostomy without knowing the cause of the obstruction. We describe a case of fatal tracheobronchial aspergillosis which developed in a 43- year-old female patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dyspnea and stridor developed on the 20th day after 2nd consolidation chemotherapy, which was during the prolonged neutropenic period. Airway narrowing was observed on the computed tomograph scan of neck and emergency tracheostomy was performed. Infiltration with aspergillus hyphae was found in the tracheal ring and bronchial mucosa. Despite the use of amphotericin B, the patient died of bleeding and airway obstruction.

Keyword

Aspergillosis; Neutropenia; Trachea; Bronchi

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction
Amphotericin B
Aspergillosis*
Aspergillus
Bronchi
Consolidation Chemotherapy
Disease Progression
Dyspnea
Emergencies
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hyphae
Immunocompromised Host
Lung
Mucous Membrane
Neck
Neutropenia
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
Respiratory Sounds
Trachea
Tracheostomy
Transplantation
Amphotericin B