Pulmonary aspergilloma is a mass caused by a fungal infection that usually grows in lung cavities. It can also appear in the brain, kidney, or other organs.

Fungus ball; Mycetoma; Aspergilloma

Aspergillomas are formed when the fungus aspergillus grows in a clump in a lung cavity, or invades previously healthy tissue, causing an abscess.

Aspergillus is a common fungus. It grows on dead leaves, stored grain, bird droppings, compost piles, and other decaying vegetation. Cavities in the lung may have been caused by:

• Coccidioidomycosis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Histoplasmosis
• Lung abscess
• Lung cancer
• Sarcoidosis
• Tuberculosis

See also: Aspergillosis

Images

Pulmonary aspergillosis

Aspergilloma

Pulmonary nodule - front view chest X-ray

Aspergillosis - chest X-ray

Lungs

Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan

Respiratory system

Next Section

Pulmonary aspergilloma Symptoms

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)