PRIMARY PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS - WITH INVASION OF MEDIASTINAL CONTENTS AND LYMPH NODES

Abstract

An unusual case of primary pulmonary aspergillosis with invasion and displacement of the mediastinum is reported. Roentgenograms showed complete opacity of the left side of the chest and shifting of the mediastinum. The diagnosis was proved by the demonstration of branching fungi with septate hyphae in biopsy specimens, as well as cultures of Aspergillus from the sputum. At autopsy, fibrous tissue proliferation was marked, and invasion by the fungus produced a frozen mediastinum which required that the entire thoracic contents be removed in a block. Branching fungi with septate hyphae were present in the tissue examined post mortem.