OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of diagnosis and surgical treatment for pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of cases with pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis were analyzed retrospectively between September 1972 and June 2003. There were 53 cases with pulmonary aspergillosis and 3 cases with pleural aspergillosis. Aspergillus was found preoperatively in 8 patients by sputum culture (5 cases) or needle biopsy of the lung (2 cases) or fibro-bronchoscopic biopsy (1 case). All patients were treated with surgical procedures following X-ray film or CT scan.

RESULTSOf 53 cases with pulmonary aspergillosis, 42 lobectomies, 3 segment-Pneumonectomies, and 8 wedge resections were performed. Of three cases with pleural aspergillosis following eliminating their diseased foci in residual pleural space, two underwent thoracoplasty, one underwent postoperative closed chest drainage for one and an half month with fluconazole injected into residual pleural space repeatedly for 1 month (200 mg/100 ml, 1 time per 2 or 3 days). No operative death and major postoperative complications occurred. None of the patients had recurrent symptoms at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONWe recommend aggressive surgical resection for pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis, and the surgical result is excellent.