Aspergillus Osteomyelitis Secondary to Chronic Necrotizing Pulmonary Aspergillosis in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aspergillus spp. are ubiquitous molds that cause a wide range of clinical syndromes depending on the immune status of the host. Herein, we present a case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis on long-term immunosuppressive medications, with a persistent dry cough and left-sided chest pain for over a year, who presented with acute sternal drainage. Computed tomography of the chest showed chronic pulmonary abnormalities, parasternal fluid, and bone destruction of the distal sternum and left sixth rib. The patient underwent debridement; sternal biopsy tissue showed septate hyphae with acute-angled branching, and Aspergillus fumigatus grew in culture. We suspected that the patient developed chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) that traversed tissue planes and caused chest wall osteomyelitis. The patient received voriconazole and surgical debridement, with clinical and radiological improvement. This case demonstrates the importance of considering CNPA as a diagnosis in patients with moderate degrees of immunosuppression and chronic respiratory symptoms, and Aspergillus spp. as an etiology of osteomyelitis in such patients.

Automated summary

This case highlights the importance of considering chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) as a diagnosis in patients with moderate immunosuppression and chronic respiratory symptoms, and recognizing Aspergillus spp. as a potential etiology of osteomyelitis in such patients.