Pleural perforation of an aspergilloma cavity occurring in a patient with interstitial lung disease

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 .