Clinical characteristics of 45 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: retrospective analysis of 1711 lung cancer cases.

BACKGROUND

: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a common complication in patients with hematologic malignancies. Patients with solid tumors also are at risk for IA because they may develop neutropenia as a result of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, studies of IA in patients with solid tumors are rare. In this study, the risk factors and clinical characteristics of pulmonary infection and death mediated by invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) as complications in patients with lung cancer were determined.

METHODS

: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical notes from 45 patients who had IPA.

RESULTS

: Among 1711 patients with lung cancer, 45 patients contracted pulmonary aspergillosis (2.63%). There were 10 cases of proven disease and 35 cases of probable disease. In univariate analysis, the main predisposing factors were clinical stage IV disease (P = .018), chemotherapy during the month preceding infection (P = .033), and corticosteroid use (> or =3 days; P = .038). In multivariate analysis, only clinical stage IV disease (P = .018) was associated with IPA. Furthermore, the mortality rate among lung cancer patients who had pulmonary aspergillosis was 51.1% (23 of 45 patients). Of the patients who died, corticosteroid therapy (P = .001) and grade 3/4 neutropenia (P = .013) were correlated statistically with pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

: In univariate analysis, the risk factors for IPA in lung cancer included chemotherapy and corticosteroid use in the month preceding infection and clinical stage IV disease. However, in multivariate analysis, only clinical stage IV disease was identified as a risk factor for IPA. Cancer 2009. (c) 2009 American Cancer Society.