Search

This patient (male, 59 years old) underwent cardiac re-transplantation for chronic rejection. Prior to re-transplantation, the patient was in NYHA class IV, with a clear chest x ray. On 14th postoperative day, he presented hemoptysis. On chest x-ray, a left lower lobe opacity was seen. Therefore, a chest CT scan was done and it showed a round mass within a pulmonary cavity surrounded by airspace in proximity of the pulmonary artery. The radiologist strongly suspected a pulmonary lesion similar to an aspergillum’s disease. The radiological appearance together with the immunocompromised status of the patient made the diagnosis of aspergillosis possible. Considered the high risk of a devastating hemoptysis due to the aspergillum vascular invasiveness, a left lower lobectomy was performed. The following course was characterized by a difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation and the patient was discharged on 45th postoperative day post lobectomy. Surprisingly pathological examination showed an abscessual cavity in an area of pulmonary infarction.