Cavitary pneumonia mimicking aspergilloma: a case report
Abstract
Pneumonia remains a significant global health burden. The 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study identified lower respiratory tract infections as the leading cause of death from infectious disease and the fifth leading cause of death overall. One of the potential complications of pneumonia is lung abscess formation. This paper aims to report and discuss a case of cavitary pneumonia in a 50-year-old male patient, which radiologically mimicked aspergilloma. A 50-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department of Bethesda Hospital, Yogyakarta, with complaints of hemoptysis (~25 cc) and shortness of breath. Three days prior, he had completed an 8-day course of treatment for pneumonia at Tjitrowardojo Purworejo Hospital. Physical examination revealed anemia, dullness in the 3rd and 4th left intercostal spaces, and crackles in both lungs. Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and elevated C-reactive protein. Imaging revealed consolidation and a cavity with a crescent sign in the left lung. Biopsy did not reveal malignancy, bacteria, or fungi—only inflammatory cells. TB and HIV tests were negative. The patient was diagnosed with a lung abscess and treated with antibiotics (levofloxacin), antifungals (fluconazole), and antifibrinolytics (tranexamic acid). This case illustrates how a lung abscess can radiologically mimic an aspergilloma, particularly with the presence of a crescent sign on imaging. Accurate diagnosis relies on a combination of imaging,…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Severe clinical outcomes of COVID-19 associated with proton pump inhibitors: a nationwide cohort study with propensity score matching
- Penicillins for Treatment of Pneumococcal Pneumonia: Does In Vitro Resistance Really Matter?
- Thiophenes—Naturally Occurring Plant Metabolites: Biological Activities and In Silico Evaluation of Their Potential as Cathepsin D Inhibitors
- Inhalable Mannosylated Rifampicin–Curcumin Co-Loaded Nanomicelles with Enhanced In Vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy for an Optimized Pulmonary Tuberculosis Therapy
- Development and validation of microbial bioassay for quantification of Levofloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations
- Association between cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and respiratory tract infections in the first 6 months of age in a Korean population: a birth cohort study (COCOA)
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.