Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis masquerading as malignancy in a nonasthmatic: A rare case report

Abstract

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a lung disease caused by hypersensitivity reaction to antigens of Aspergillus species of which Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common culprit. ABPA is most commonly diagnosed in patients with a history of uncontrolled bronchial asthma despite optimum treatment. ABPA is rarely diagnosed in nonasthmatics. Diverse radiological appearances are known in ABPA patients; however, whole lung collapse has been rarely reported. We report a case of ABPA in a 62-year-old female with no background history of asthma, initially suspected to have bronchogenic carcinoma of the right lung. After ruling out malignancy, the diagnosis of ABPA was established based on Rosenberg-Patterson criteria. Treatment with oral steroids for 6 months in tapering doses lead to clinical and radiological improvement and decrease in IgE levels. This case is unique as ABPA masquerading as malignancy causing a lung collapse in a nonasthmatic is a very rare presentation.

Keywords

• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
• malignancy
• mucoid impaction