PALLIATIVE PERCUTANEOUS TREATMENT OF INOP ERABLE PULMONARY ASPERGILLOMA

The authors report 30 cases of the percutaneous treatment of symptomat ic pulmonary aspergilloma by injection of amphotericine paste in patie nts who were not considered to be operable. The treated aspergillomas had developed as a sequel to bacilliary infection and pulmonary fibros is. Surgery was contraindicated in these patients on account of severe respiratory failure. The authors specify the technique for the prepar ation of the paste and for the type of percutaneous injection the aim being to obtain complete filling of the cavity and creating an anaerob ic environment for the aspergillus. The contribution of this technique for the non-surgical treatment of patients appears interesting but sh ould be carried on a larger series to identify the exact indications a nd the interaction with other new treatments which have just appeared.