Two cases of aspergillus infection detected during surgery for pneumothorax

Abstract

We operated on two patients with pneumothorax and collected bulla specimens. The resected specimens were histopathologically examined and Aspergillus was detected in the thickened walls of the bullae. These two cases are discussed in the present study.
Case 1 : The patient was a 48-year-old male who was hospitalized because of left pneumothorax. Continuous drainage failed to improve the symptoms and surgery was indicated. Bullae at the apex of the lung were resected, and Aspergillus was detected inside the wall.
Case 2 : The patient was a 46-year-old male. He presented to this department with a complaint of right chest pain. A film of the chest revealed right pneumothorax and bilateral cysts, and the removal of the right cysts was indicated. The resected specimen was histopathologically examined and the presence of Aspergillus in the subpleural space was confirmed.
Pulmonary aspergillosis is generally a problem in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and suppuration and immunocompromised hosts who have been placed on anticancer or steroid therapy. In the present study, however, Aspergillus was detected in two cases of pneumothorax without underlying disease.
We experienced two cases of pneumothorax complicated with Aspergillus infection. During surgery for pneumothorax, the bulla specimens were collected for the histopathological examination. We reported these two rare cases because Aspergillus was detected inside the walls of the bullae.