A Case of Spontaneous Pneumothorax Due to Rupture of Bleb Infected with Aspergillosis

Abstract

A 17-year-old male was diagnosed as having left spontaneous pneumothorax by chest X-ray. Chest CT scan showed a cystic shadow with a thick wall in the left apex. Thoracotomy was performed, and the bleb was resected. Histologically, aspergillus was found in the cavity and the wall of the resected bleb. In this case, we consider that focal aspergillus infection in the bleb caused spontaneous pneumothorax.
In cases of spontaneous pneumothorax in which the bleb wall is thick, the bleb should be evaluated by histological and bacteriological examination.
Such a case has been rarely reported in Japan.