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Purpose: Psoas abscess is a rare disease in developed countries. Its diagnosis is difficult and any delay could lead to a worsen prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine the best diagnostic and therapeutic practices., Methods: A retrospective study of psoas abscess that occurred during six months was performed., Results: Six cases of secondary psoas abscess are reported. They were associated with spondylodiscitis in three cases, arthritis and gynaecologic infection in the three remaining cases. Anatomic diagnosis was performed by tomodensitometry. Microbiologic diagnosis was obtained by blood culture or direct puncture of the abscess. Antibiotics were associated with percutaneous drainage in two cases, with simple puncture in one case, and with surgery in one case. A local improvement w observed in all cases. The oldest patients presented the worst complications which were not directly caused by the abscess., Conclusion: Physicians must be aware of psoas abscess because of their increasing incidence. Despite the fact that digestive pathologies are the main cause of secondary psoas abscess, bone infections, particularly spine infections, should be taken into consideration. Tomodensitometry guided puncture or percutaneous drainage are of diagnostic and therapeutic interest. Infectious samples must be taken before starting antibiotics, which have to be efficient against Gram negative bacillus, anaerobes and Staphylococcus aureus. Surgery must be quickly performed when the primary infection localisation need it, in case of voluminous abscess or when antibiotics and drainage are inefficient.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) occurs mostly in immunocompromised hosts and especially in neutropenic patients. Improved prognosis for IPA requires early diagnosis. We report our experience in the management of IPA in patients with hematological malignancies. In prolonged neutropenia (> 10 days), thoracic CT scanning seems to be the best choice for the diagnosis of IPA (with CT halo or air-crescent signs). Its systematic use allows a dramatic reduction in the time to achieve the diagnosis, if there is evidence of a halo sign. The systematic screening for the detection of Aspergillus antigenemia with an ELISA test is helpful for early diagnosis. The detection of Aspergillus antigen (with the less sensitive latex agglutination test) on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid may also be as useful. The treatment of IPA relies on amphotericin B (or its lipid formulations) or on azole antifungal agents. Pulmonary surgical resection should be considered either as an emergency procedure (despite persistent neutropenia) to avoid massive hemoptysis, or as an elective or diagnostic procedure. This global strategy for the management of IPA is associated with a 75-80% success rate in hematological patients. Nevertheless, the control of underlying malignancy remains a major prognostic factor.

Background: The aim of our study was to clarify the indications for operation in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis., Methods: Nineteen patients with hematologic malignancy, in whom invasive pulmonary aspergillosis developed during the course of neutropenia, had operations. Neutropenia lasted 28 days (range, 15 to 45 days). The preoperative diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was based on computed tomographic scan findings (halo or air crescent signs)., Results: Eight patients underwent emergency operations, before marrow recovery, for prevention of massive hemoptysis. The criterion for operation was an aspergillosis lesion that contacted the pulmonary artery on computed tomography. A lobectomy was performed in all cases. A sleeve resection of the pulmonary artery was necessary on two occasions. There was one postoperative death due to extensive aspergillosis. The length of hospitalization after operation was 13 days (range, 6 to 18 days). Seven patients were treated by elective resection of a residual mass (before hematologic therapy in 6 cases). The types of resection performed were lobectomy (n = 4), lingulectomy (n = 1), and wedge resection (n = 2). There were no postoperative deaths. The average length of stay before discharge from the hospital was 11 days (range, 7 to 20 days). The surgical resection was performed as a diagnostic procedure in the 4 remaining patients after an allotted time of 14 days (range, 4 to 24 days) from initiation of antifungal therapy., Conclusions: The combination of antifungal agents and surgical resection is an efficient strategy for the treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancy.