The Ewha Medical Journal  2016;39(2):65-68

doi:10.12771/emj.2016.39.2.65

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Histologically Mimicking Mucormycosis.

Jun Gyu SONG 1 ; Sae Han KANG ; Byung Wook JUNG ; Hyeon Sik OH ; Min Ja KIM ; Seung Hyeun LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Aspergillosis; Galactomannan; Mucormycosis; Polymerase chain reaction

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Differential diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis from other pulmonary fungal infections including mucormycosis is important because the treatment is pathogen-dependent. Clinically, invasive aspergillosis is often discriminated from other mold infections on the basis of typical histopathologic features in the biopsy specimen. However, biopsy alone is not always complete because different fungal species can display similar histopathologic features. Surrogate markers or molecular-based assays can be useful when the results of conventional diagnostic modalities are conflicting. Here, we present a case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis histologically mimicking mucormycosis, which was confirmed by fungal polymerase chain reaction.