CHRONIC NECROTIZING PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS BY ASPERGILLUS-NIGER

Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergilosis (CNPA), also known as semiinvasive pulmonary aspergilosis, is a recently defined entity. CNPA is characterized by a pulmonary infiltration with cavitation of chronic evolution in patients with chronic pulmonary disease, slight immunodeficiency or healthy patients. Good evolution is obtained with antimicotic treatment. The isolation of Aspergillus niger as a cause of CNPA is infrequent and may bear worse prognosis. A patient who presented CNPA by Aspergillus niger is described. The patient had received radiotherapy for epidermal carcinoma of the esophagus. Three other cases have been reported in the literature. The diagnostic aspects, treatment and prognostic factors of CNPA are commented upon.