Pulmonary aspergilloma with subcutaneous fistula resulting in massive hemoptysis & subcutaneous emphysema

Abstract

Aspergillomas growing in pre-existing lung cavities can lead to presentations of hemoptysis. We present a case of a 73-year-old male with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and known 4 cm left cavitary lesion in the left upper lobe presenting with cough and hemoptysis, leading to the diagnosis of a pulmonary aspergilloma complicated by chest wall subcutaneous emphysema due to cavitary-subcutaneous fistula in the setting of excessive cough. This case sheds light on subcutaneous emphysema as a potential rare complication of aspergillomas in patients without prior trauma.