Outcomes of resectable pulmonary aspergilloma and the performance gap in a high tuberculosis prevalence setting: A retrospective study

Background . Pulmonary aspergillomas develop in patients with underlying structural lung diseases. The mainstay of therapy is surgery. Objectives . To assess treatment and clinical outcomes following diagnosis of potentially resectable pulmonary aspergilloma at the Tygerberg Hospital (TBH) between January 2013 and December 2015. Methods . This was a retrospective analysis conducted at TBH. Patients were followed up between 6 and 29 months following diagnosis to analyse outcomes. Results . Fifty-nine patients presented for surgery. The mean (SD) age was 44.5 (8.8) years. Thirty-six (61.0%) were male and 13 (22.0%) were HIV-positive. A previous history of pulmonary TB was identified in 83.1% of the patients. One or both upper lobes were involved in 58 patients (98.3%) and haemoptysis was the most frequent symptom, occurring in 56 patients (94.9%). Nine patients (15.3%) were considered unfit for surgery. As of June 2016, 23 (46.0%) of the remaining 50 patients had undergone surgery and 3 (6.0%) had died before surgery was performed. The median time from multidisciplinary discussion to surgery was 190 days (interquartile range 134 - 351). Twenty patients (87.0%) underwent lobectomy and 3 (13.0%) had pneumonectomy. There was no postoperative mortality. One patient developed bleeding, persistent air leak and aspiration pneumonia postoperatively. Three patients were hospitalised for >7 days postoperatively. Following surgery, only two patients reported ongoing respiratory symptoms by day 90. Conclusion . Less than half of the patients accepted for lung resection at TBH underwent surgery. Waiting times were long (>1 year in 25%) and were associated with mortality. Barriers to prompt surgery are complex, but should be addressed urgently.