1. Oesophageal and pulmonary invasive aspergillosis in a patient with multiple myeloma.
- Author
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Puing AG, Ross J, Parekh V, and Nanayakkara DD
- Subjects
- Esophagus, Humans, Aspergillosis complications, Aspergillosis diagnosis, Aspergillosis drug therapy, Invasive Fungal Infections complications, Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis complications, Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis diagnosis, Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis drug therapy, Multiple Myeloma complications, Multiple Myeloma diagnosis
- Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a serious fungal infection that primarily affects patients with prolonged and profound neutropenia, and compromised cell-mediated immunity. Aspergillosis of the oesophagus and gastrointestinal tract is uncommon but seen in advanced cases of disseminated IA. However, it is difficult to diagnose antemortem due to the poor specificity of the symptoms and the absence of characteristic imaging findings. Therefore, the reported cases of gastrointestinal aspergillosis have been associated with high morbidity and mortality, and frequently diagnosed postmortem. Here we present a successful outcome in a patient with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who had presented with febrile neutropenia, cough and dysphagia, and was diagnosed with disseminated IA comprising of pulmonary and oesophageal involvement. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion and the importance of invasive procedures for histopathology and molecular diagnostics to ensure an early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
- Published
- 2022
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