Korean Circ J.  2009 Feb;39(2):79-81. 10.4070/kcj.2009.39.2.79.

A Case of Aspergillus Endocarditis Presenting as Endophthalmitis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Cardiology, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. jychoi@cu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Pathology, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

Aspergillus endocarditis is an uncommon, but often fatal, disease that usually occurs in patients who have had prior cardiac surgery. Endophthalmitis is a very rare complication of infective endocarditis, especially at presentation. We report a case of Aspergillus endocarditis in a 68-year-old woman who presented with endophthalmitis.

Keyword

Aspergillus; Endocarditis; Endophthalmitis

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aspergillus
Endocarditis
Endophthalmitis
Female
Humans
Thoracic Surgery

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Transesophageal echocardiography findings. Multiple vegetations are attached to the posterior mitral valve (A: white arrow) and chordae of the anterior mitral leaflet (B: arrow head). LA: left atrium, LV: left ventricle, AO: aorta.

  • Fig. 2 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. There is acute intracerebral hemorrhage in the right temporoparietal lobe, with intraventricular hemorrhage.

  • Fig. 3 3D-computed tomographic angiography of brain. There is a fusiform aneurysm in the right middle cerebral artery (arrow).

  • Fig. 4 Pathologic findings of aspirated cerebral aneurysm tissue. There are many fungal hyphae against a necrotic background. Branching hyphae with acute angles are occasionally noted, as well (H & E, ×400).


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