Pulmonary aspergilloma (mycetoma)

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Aspergilloma	Aspergillosis - chest X-ray	Lungs	Pulmonary aspergillosis
Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan	Pulmonary nodule - front view chest X-ray	Respiratory system

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:

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

See also: Aspergillosis

Review Date: 09/17/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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