Aspergillus mediastinitis diagnosed by EUS-guided FNA - 23/08/11
Doi : 10.1016/j.gie.2007.07.029
| Commentary Aspergillus is a genus of fungus that contains more than 150 species. It was first catalogued in 1729 by Pier Antonio Micheli, who is known as the Father of Mycology and who served as botanist to Cosimo III de Medici. Viewing the fruiting heads of the fungus under a microscope, Micheli was reminded of an aspergillum, a brush or perforated container used to sprinkle holy water (Latin: aspergere, to sprinkle on), and he named the genus accordingly. Healthy persons usually do not develop aspergillosis, but hypersensitivity, structural lung disease, and immune compromise are the 3 factors that mainly determine the spectrum of disease caused by this mold. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a serious complication in immunocompromised patients, occurring mostly in patients, like this one, with hematologic malignancies who are undergoing chemotherapy and in those who have undergone bone marrow or organ transplantation and concomitant immunosuppressive therapy. Extension of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis to the mediastinum, however, is quite uncommon. Diagnosis, as in this case, is by serologic and microbiologic testing. Fortunately, treatment was successful and the patient recovered from this opportunistic infection. The ancient Romans marked each day that was good with a white stone and each day that was bad with a black one. Once decided, a pebble of appropriate color was dropped into an urn so at the end of the month, the Roman could overturn the urn and look back over the month past. For this patient, his treatment marked the start, I hope, of many a day marked with an albo lapillus. Lawrence J. Brandt, MD Associate Editor for Focal Points |
© 2008
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Publié par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.
Vol 67 - N° 1
P. 153-154 - janvier 2008 Retour au numéro
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