Spontaneous pleural aspergillosis in an immunocompetent young adult treated with minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

Spontaneous cases of pleural aspergillosis in healthy adults are rare, and the optimal therapeutic approach has not been established. Here we report a rare case of spontaneous pleural aspergillosis in an otherwise healthy young adult. Two-stage surgery with decortication and cavernostomy, followed by systemic antifungal therapy, finally resulted in a successful resolution of his empyema without any serious complications. In young patients with good pulmonary compliance, less invasive procedures, such as thoracoscopic decortication and/or carvernotomy, is a potential treatment option.

Keywords

• Pleural aspergillosis
• Aspergillus empyema
• Spontaneous pneumothorax
• Decortication
• Cavernostomy
• Minimally invasive surgery