Korean J Leg Med.  2018 Nov;42(4):164-167. 10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.4.164.

Death due to Aspergillus Tracheobronchitis: An Autopsy Case

• You TK
• Choi BH
• Lee BW
• Choi YS

• KMID: 2427564
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.4.164

Abstract

Aspergillus infection is the most common cause of death due to fungi in immunocompromised hosts. Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is an uncommon but severe form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which is limited entirely or mainly to the tracheobronchial tree and can often be life-threatening. We report a case of a 54-year-old man who died from Aspergillus tracheobronchitis without an underlying disease. Autopsy revealed an extensive yellowish plaque adhering to the trachea and bronchial wall. The microscopic examination of the trachea and bronchus revealed septate branching hyphae of Aspergillus.

Keyword

Tracheitis; Bronchitis; Aspergillus; Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; Autopsy

MeSH Terms

Aspergillus*
Autopsy*
Bronchi
Bronchitis
Cause of Death
Fungi
Humans
Hyphae
Immunocompromised Host
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Middle Aged
Trachea
Tracheitis
Trees

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Autopsy photography reveals extensive yellowish exudate on the trachea (A) and main bronchus (B).

• 

  Fig. 2 On microscopic examination of lung sections, numerous branching hyphae mixed with necrotic debris, inflammatory cells and erythrocyte are noted (A) (H&E stain, ×100). Uninvolved bronchial epithelium (lower left) compared to that numerous septate branching hyphae (aspergillus) invade bronchial wall (left upper, lower right) with inflammatory cells and necrotic debris (B) (periodic acid-Schiff stain, ×200).

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