E. Peeva et al., Pleural perforation of an aspergilloma cavity occurring in a patient with interstitial lung disease, SC J IN DIS, 30(6), 1998, pp. 617-618
An aspergilloma is a fungus ball resulting from colonization of pre-existin
g pulmonary cavities, which usually represents a non-invasive form of asper
gillosis, Spontaneous rupture of the cavity containing the fungi into the p
leural space is an unusual complication that has been reported occasionally
in patients with leukemia and invasive aspergillosis. We report on this un
usual complication occurring in a patient with underlying interstitial lung
disease, in whom the aspergilloma cavity abruptly ruptured into the pleura
l space with subsequent hydropneumothorax and pleural spillage of the fungi
.