Colonization of an existing intrapulmonary cavity with Aspergillus is called as Aspergilloma. Surgical treatment of
Aspergilloma is recommended in asymptomatic patients since there is always a risk of sudden life-threatening
hemoptysis. In contrary, surgical treatment of aspergilloma is disproved by same authors because of the high risk
of morbidity and mortality.
Four patients treated in our clinic are presented. All patients had hemoptysis, of whom three were serious. Three
patients had history of tuberculosis and one had chronic liver disease. Chest radiogram and thoracic computed
tomography revealed fungus ball in the cavity in all patients. Two patients were diagnosed with sputum smear
and culture and one patient with fine needle aspiration biopsy preoperatively. We performed upper lobectomy in
three patients the fourth patient was treated conservatively. Pathologic examination showed aspergillus fungus
ball in all surgical patients. Morbidity included; incomplete re-expansion and upper residual pleural space in two
patients and lower lobe atelectasis in one of them. Hemoptysis was not observed in any patient postoperatively.
There was no serious morbidity, and no mortality in this small series of pulmonary aspergilloma treated with
upper lobectomy, and control of hemoptysis was achieved in all. It can be cocluded that pulmonary resection is a
safe and an effective treatment mortality in pulmonary aspergilloma, and pulmonary resection may be performed
in patients who can tolerate it.
Key Words: Pulmonary Aspergilloma, Surgical Treatment, Tuberculosis, Hemoptysis
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