The Spectrum of Pulmonary Aspergillosis: An Overview

In this chapter we provide a comprehensive overview of pulmonary aspergillosis starting from the first documented case in 1789 all the way to the most recent international consensus guidelines for modern treatments. We discuss how Aspergillus is ubiquitous in the environment and review pathogenicity in pulmonary parenchymal tissue. We review current laboratory techniques used to identify Aspergillus species in human disease as well as review common radiographic presentations of the spectrum of pulmonary aspergillosis. Moving toward recognizing the spectrum of disease in pulmonary aspergillosis, we provide a framework toward approaching the patient with disease starting with recognizing the host’s immune competence factors as well as pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities. Finally, a summary description of each presentation in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and features of hypersensitivity aspergillosis diseases, like allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, is described.