• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2012

Aspergillus is a ubiquitous fungus and can cause many levels of disease severity. Chronic necrotizing aspergillosis is a rare disease and few cases have been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of pleural aspergillosis that was treated successfully with medical and surgical interventions. The 52-year-old man who was diagnosed with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis underwent surgical treatment including a lobectomy, decortication, and myoplasty. The patient was also medically treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Pleural irrigation with amphotericin B was also performed. A multi-dimensional approach should be considered for treating chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.317-323
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• 1991

Pulmonary mucormycosis is an uncommon opportunistic fungal infection associated with diabetis mellitus, leukemia, lymphoma & other debilitating diseases. Their clinical presentations depend on the associated underlying disorders. Generally patients with leukemia and lymphoma often have rapidly progressive clinical course, and may cause diffuse parenchymal disease refractory to medical and surgical therapies. However, some diabetics with pulmonary mucormycosis have a striking tendency to develop a localized endobronchial disease in major airway which is amenable to therapy with surgery and Amphotericin B. We have experienced a case of endobronchial mucormycosis complicating lung abscess associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, which was cured without specific antifungal therapy or surgery. A brief review of the literature was given.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.339-341
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• 1994

Pulmonary zygomycosis was diagnosed in 2 of the 45 broiler chicks both by culture as well as direct microscopy. Absidia corymbifera was isolated from the diseased lungs on Sabouraud medium at 37$^{\circ}C$. The squash preparations of the lungs in direct microscopy revealed the presence of broad non-septate, branched zygomycetes type hyphae, Similar fungal elements were detected in the PAS stained tissue imprints of the infected lungs. The recovery of A. corymbifera in high concentration from the litter and soil of chick pen suggested that environment probably acted as the source of Infection to these broilers. It is advised that zygomycosis may be considered in the differential diagnosis of avian respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2014

Mucormycosis is a rare but fatal fungal infection with low survival rate in immune-compromised patients. It is caused by a fungus belonging to the Mucoraceae family of the Zygomycetes class. Mucormycosis is classified as rhino-orbital-cerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, disseminated, and miscellaneous types according to its clinical manifestations. Early diagnosis and treatment along with correction of the underlying medical condition is important for favorable results. This case presentation describes mucormycosis involving the anterior maxillary region in a leukemic patient with prolonged neutropenia. The patient benefited from a timely biopsy and immediate treatment with amphotericin B, and was successfully managed with an interdisciplinary team approach consisting of dental and several medical specialists.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.266-272
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• 1999

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection acquired by inhalation of the arthrospore of Coccidioides immitis, and endemic disease in specific geographic areas, such as south central California, south Arizona. Nevada, and New Mexico. Approximately 60 percent of infected people is asymptomatic and the remainders mostly exhibit respiratory complaints, from flu-like coughing to overt pneumonia. Usually the infection due to Coccidioides immitis is self-limited. Symptoms resolve within several weeks but radiographic abnormalities could be resolved more slowly. If the radiographic abnormalities persist more than 8 weeks, the term' chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis' is designated. They take forms of nodules, cavities or progressive pneumonia. When manifested as nodule(s), lung malignancy is suspected as a possible diagnosis and histologic confirmation is needed. Here, we report a case of chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis manifested as solitary pulmonary nodule in a Korean woman who has traveled in Arizona, which is diagnosed finally by lobectomy and histologic examination.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical effects of anterior radical debridement on a series of patients with spontaneous spinal infection. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 32 patients who underwent surgical treatment from January 2000 to December 2005 in our department. The average follow-up Period was 33.4 months (range, 6 to 87 months). Thirty-two patients presented with the following : 23 cases with pyogenic spondylitis, eight with tuberculous spondylitis and one with fungal spondylitis. The indications for surgery were intractable pain, failure of medical management, neurological impairment with or without an associated abscess, vertebral destruction causing spinal instability and/or segmental kyphosis. Results : The study included 15 (46.9%) males and 17 (53.1%) females ranging in age from 26 to 75 years (mean, 53.1 years). Diabetes mellitus (DM) and pulmonary Tbc were the most common predisposing factors for pyogenic spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis. Staphylococcus aureus (13%) was the main organism isolated. The most prevalent location was the lumbar spine (75%). Changes in the pain score, Frankel's classification, and laboratory parameters demonstrated a significant clinical improvement in all patients. However, there were recurrent infections in two patients with tuberculous spondylitis and inappropriate debridement and intolerance of medication and noncompliance. Autologous rib, iliac bone and allograft(fibular) were performed in most patients. However, 10 patients were grafted using a titanium mesh cage after anterior radical debridement. There were no recurrent infections in the 10 cases using the mesh cage with radical debridement. Conclusion : The findings of this study indicate that surgery based on appropriate surgical indications is effective for the control of spinal infection and prevention of recurrence with anterior radical debridement, proper drug use and abscess drainage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 1996

Cryptococcosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. This mycosis is best known for meningeal involvement, yet, this disease rarely can be limited to the lungs. The usual portal of entry is respiratory tract. The recently rising incidence of the disease can be attributable to wide use of steroid, immunosuppressive agents and advent of AIDS. We experienced one case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in healthy person, who was admitted to the our hospital because of cough. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated in the sputum, and lung tissue obtained by CT guide needle aspiration biopsy. Clinical improvement was noted after 6weeks of medical therapy with fluconazole.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.220-224
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• 2009

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the soil fungus, Coccidioides immitis, which is endemic to the south-western United States. However, the incidence of coccidioidomycosis has recently increased due to the increase in overseas travel to endemic areas. We report a case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis diagnosed in an immunocompetent person. A 28-year-old female, who had lived in Phoenix, Arizona, USA for 2 years, was admitted for an evaluation of persistent cough with fever lasting for 2 weeks. The chest X-ray and Chest CT revealed multifocal patchy consolidation and ground-glass opacity in both lungs as well as multiple enlarged right hilar and paratracheal lymph nodes. A percutaneous needLe biopsy of the main mass-like consolidation confirmed mature spherules of Coccidioides immitis in lung tissue. Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis should be considered in patients presenting with persistent cough with fever and a history of travel to or immigration from an endemic area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2016

Variable systemic diseases affect larynx and vocal fold and result in voice change. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease make increase of intra-abdomimal pressure followed by reflux of gastric acid, which stimulate vagal-bronchopulomary reflex aggravating cough and respiratory disturbance. Fungal laryngitis in the general population is extremely rare, but can occur in immunocompromised AIDS patients. Although, initially, empirical antifungal therapy for candidiasis is often given without biopsy, diagnostic direct laryngoscopy and biopsy is imperative if a substantial clinical response is not rapidly achieved. In the highly active anti-retroviral therapy era, HIV-positive patients are living longer and are at higher risk for developing non-AIDS-defining malignancies. The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) which is related with human papilloma virus infection has increased. The survival is significantly lower among the AIDS-HNC patients with CD4 counts ${\leq}200cells/{\mu}L$. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cause voice disturbance by developing cricoarytenoid joints fixation or nodule on vocal fold. Post-menopausal voice disorder (PMVD) is caused by decreased secretion of estrogen-progesterone resulting in decrease of fundamental frequency (F0). Hormonal replacement therapy is helpful to reduce F0 decrease. RA and PMVD result in slight voice change, but it could crucial in professional voice user.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2011

Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with invasive disease aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The major aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical and immunological responses of male Wistar rats against A. fumigatus experimentally-induced pulmonary fungal infection. Nostril experimental exposure of male Wistar rats to a high dose of A. fumigatus freeze-dried preparation for only 24 hr resulted in a significant increase in levels of catalase, nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in lung homogenates, compared to those of the control animals. However, the oxidative status of the lungs of rats challenged with killed fungus did not change significantly, except for the stimulation in the level of lipid peroxide. IgG level was significantly elevated only in rats that received two low doses of fungus, compared to unexposed animals (p < 0.005). Examining the lung of rats exposed to A. fumigatus revealed no abnormal changes, except for pus in bronchial lumen spaces and per bronchial inflammation. Histologically, large numbers of granuloma cells were evident in the lungs of challenged rats, while no granuloma formation was evident in the lungs of rats exposed to killed fungus.