Death due to Aspergillus Tracheobronchitis: An Autopsy Case.

You, Tack Kune; Choi, Byung Ha; Lee, Bong Woo; Choi, Young Shik

doi:2018.42.4.164

Korean J Leg Med > Volume 42(4); 2018 > Article

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2018;42(4):164-167.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.4.164 Published online November 30, 2018.

Death due to Aspergillus Tracheobronchitis: An Autopsy Case.

Tack Kune You, Byung Ha Choi, Bong Woo Lee, Young Shik Choi

¹Medical Examiner's Office, National Forensic Service, Wonju, Korea. ryu.taekkyoon@gmail.com
²National Forensic Service, Wonju, Korea.

Abstract

Aspergillus infection is the most common cause of death due to fungi in immunocompromised hosts. Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is an uncommon but severe form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which is limited entirely or mainly to the tracheobronchial tree and can often be life-threatening. We report a case of a 54-year-old man who died from Aspergillus tracheobronchitis without an underlying disease. Autopsy revealed an extensive yellowish plaque adhering to the trachea and bronchial wall. The microscopic examination of the trachea and bronchus revealed septate branching hyphae of Aspergillus.

Key Words: Tracheitis, Bronchitis, Aspergillus, Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, Autopsy