Abdominal aspergillosis: CT findings

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.08.016
• Publication Date: 2009-09-23T10:51:37Z
• Authors: Suk Keu Yeom; Hye Jin Kim; Jae Ho Byun; Ah Young Kim; Moon-Gyu Lee; Hyun Kwon Ha
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Radiography, Abdominal; Reproducibility of Results; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; 3. Good health; Immunocompromised Host; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Aspergillosis; Humans; Female; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

In order to retrospectively evaluate the CT findings of abdominal aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients.CT scans were reviewed with regard to the sites, number, morphologic appearance, attenuation, and the contrast enhancement patterns of the lesions in six patients (5 women, 1 man; mean age, 43.4 years; range, 23-59 years) with pathologically proved abdominal aspergillosis by two gastrointestinal radiologists in consensus. Medical records were also reviewed to determine each patient's clinical status and outcome.All patients were immunocompromised state: 4 patients received immunosuppressive therapy for solid organ transplantation and 2 patients received chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Aspergillosis involved blood vessels (n = 3), liver (n = 2), spleen (n = 2), gastrointestinal tract (n = 2), native kidney (n = 1), transplanted kidney (n = 1), peritoneum (n = 1), and retroperitoneum (n = 1). CT demonstrated solid organ or bowel infarction or perforation secondary to vascular thrombosis or pseudoaneurysm, multiple low-attenuating lesions of solid organs presenting as abscesses, concentric bowel wall thickening mimicking typhlitis, or diffuse or nodular infiltration of the peritoneum and retroperitoneum.Familiarity with findings commonly presenting as angioinvasive features or abscesses on CT, may facilitate the diagnosis of rare and fatal abdominal aspergillosis.