Journal of Medical Case Reports (Feb 2011)

Bronchial stump aspergillosis after lobectomy for lung cancer as an unusual cause of false positive fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography: a case report

  • Font Albert,
  • Sanz-Santos Jose,
  • Rosiñol Òria,
  • Andreo Felipe,
  • Garcia-Olivé Ignasi,
  • Monsó Eduard

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-72
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 1
p. 72

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Introduction Bronchial stump aspergillosis is a rare entity characterized by cough and hemoptysis. Case presentation We report the case of a 58-year-old Caucasian woman who developed bronchial stump aspergillosis two years after a left upper lobe resection for lung cancer. Bronchial stump aspergillosis was diagnosed as a result of a focus of increased fluorodeoxyglucose activity in a follow-up positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan. She was treated with oral antifungal therapy and presented with good evolution after three months of treatment. Conclusion Bronchial stump aspergillosis is an unusual complication after pulmonary resection. Clinicians should be aware of it when a local recurrence of cancer around the bronchial stump is suspected based on a positive positron emission tomography and computed tomography finding.