Abi Rached Vanessa, Azar Karine, Gerges Sarah, Hallit Souheil, Akoury Elie, Chahine Georges, Hallit Rabih, Akiki Bassem, Rizk Rita
School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, P. O. Box 446, Jounieh, Lebanon.
Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon.
Access Microbiol. 2024 Sep 13;6(9). doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000842.v4. eCollection 2024.
Oesophageal aspergillosis is a rare occurrence primarily documented in hematologic malignancies, and only rarely occurring among patients with solid tumours. In this case report, we present the unique case of an 81-year-old Lebanese man who had a remarkable medical history, including four solid tumours. The patient sought medical attention due to dysphagia and weight loss, prompting a gastroscopic examination that revealed a necrotic abscess at the oesophagogastric junction. Initial treatment with fluconazole and esomeprazole was administered, but the recurrence of similar symptoms led to a repeat gastroscopy, unveiling a diagnosis of oesophagitis. Intravenous voriconazole was promptly initiated; however, the patient developed a significant pericardial effusion and expired, with species identified in the pericardial fluid prior to patient expiring. This exceptional case emphasizes the importance of considering oesophageal aspergillosis in cancer patients who present with refractory symptoms such as epigastric pain, dysphagia, nausea, and vomiting, despite symptomatic treatment. Our findings underscore the need for increased awareness and the inclusion of gastrointestinal endoscopy as part of the diagnostic approach for this rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
食管曲霉病是一种罕见疾病,主要见于血液系统恶性肿瘤患者,在实体肿瘤患者中极为罕见。在本病例报告中,我们呈现了一名81岁黎巴嫩男性的独特病例,该患者有显著的病史,包括四种实体肿瘤。患者因吞咽困难和体重减轻就医,促使进行胃镜检查,结果显示食管胃交界处有坏死性脓肿。最初给予氟康唑和埃索美拉唑治疗,但类似症状复发导致再次进行胃镜检查,确诊为食管炎。随即迅速开始静脉注射伏立康唑;然而,患者出现大量心包积液并死亡,在患者死亡前心包积液中鉴定出了菌种。这个特殊病例强调了对于出现难治性症状(如上腹痛、吞咽困难、恶心和呕吐)的癌症患者,尽管进行了对症治疗,仍需考虑食管曲霉病。我们的研究结果强调了提高认识的必要性,并将胃肠内镜检查纳入这种罕见但可能危及生命疾病的诊断方法中。