Pulmonary aspergilloma: A 15 years experience in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

There is a paucity of literature on the prevalence and surgical treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma in African countries. This was a retrospective review of cases managed at the Thoracic Surgical Unit of Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, over a 15-year period from June 1986 to May 2000. Ten patients were operated on for pulmonary aspergilloma out of 345 major thoracic surgical operations performed by the unit during the period of study. There were eight males and two females. The surgical  treatment offered included left upper lobectomy in six patients, right upper lobectomy in two, right lower lobectomy in one and extra pleural pneumonectomy in one other patient. There were three deaths. It is recommended that pulmonary aspergilloma should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis in any patient who presents  with recurrent episodes of haemoptysis.

Key words: Pulmonary, aspergilloma and surgical treatment