Protean Manifestations of Aspergillosis

Saprophytic aspergillosis, consisting of fungal growth without tissue invasion. Examples include airway colonization as in asthma, cystic fibrosis, and COPD mycetoma or an invasion of necrotic tissue, usually the infarcted lung. 

Allergic aspergillosis, a noninfectious inflammatory response to the fungus. Examples include extrinsic allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonia, and ABPA. 

Invasive aspergillosis, where there is invasion of viable pulmonary tissue by the fungus. Examples include patients with neoplasia, especially those with acute leukemia organ transplant uncontrolled diabetes mel-litus and corticosteroid therapy. 

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The protean manifestations of aspergillosis are attributed to colonization, allergy, or tissue invasion by Aspergillus. Approximately 350 species of aspergil-lus have been described, but only a few cause human disease. Aspergillus fumiga-... 

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