Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis manifested secondary to bacterial pleural empyema

Abstract

AbstractA 54‐year‐old woman with no history of lung disease including bronchial asthma developed left bacterial pleural empyema due to the perforation of a lung abscess in the left lower lobe. Chest tube drainage and antibiotics improved the pleural empyema. Two months following discharge from the hospital, she developed a cough and left chest pain. Chest computed tomography revealed high‐attenuation mucus plugs, atelectasis in the left lower lobe, and an increased peripheral blood eosinophil count. Bronchoscopy revealed a mucoid impaction in B8 of the left lower lobe, confirming the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus. A diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis was made, and treatment with oral prednisolone was initiated, resulting in the resolution of the mucus plugs and improvement of atelectasis.