Hospital Virtual Tour

Pulmonary aspergilloma (mycetoma) - Symptom

Alternative Names

Fungus ball; Mycetoma; Aspergilloma

Symptoms:

Many patients have no symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they can include:

Chest pain
Cough
Coughing up blood (seen in up to 75% of patients)
Fever
Malaise
Unintentional weight loss
Shortness of breath
Wheezing

Signs and tests:

Blood test for presence of aspergillus in the body (galactomannan)
Blood test to detect antibodies to aspergillus (serum precipitins for aspergillus)
Bronchoscopy or bronchoscopy with lavage (BAL)
Chest CT
Chest x-ray
Sputum culture

Lungs

Pulmonary nodule - front view chest X-ray

Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan

Aspergilloma

Pulmonary aspergillosis

Aspergillosis - chest X-ray

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 9/17/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Patterson TF. Aspergillus species. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005: chap 256.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)