The role of BAL in the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis

Chest. 2000 Jan;117(1):279-82. doi: 10.1378/chest.117.1.279.

Abstract

Five patients with pulmonary mucormycosis diagnosed during life are described. All had underlying predisposing conditions: either posttransplant or hematologic malignancies. In all cases, the diagnosis was made using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In three patients, BAL was diagnostic. In two of these patients, the diagnosis was made by identifying the typical hyphae of mucormycosis in the BAL fluid alone. Transbronchial biopsy was diagnostic in three patients. Treatment was based on IV antifungal chemotherapy together with surgical removal of involved lung tissue whenever feasible. The clinical outcome of these patients was dismal and was determined primarily by the underlying condition.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucorales / isolation & purification
  • Mucormycosis / diagnosis*
  • Mucormycosis / drug therapy
  • Mucormycosis / mortality
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B