Clinical outcomes of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis managed surgically

OBJECTIVES Surgical resection is one treatment modality for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), and sometimes a preoperative presumption of lung cancer turns out to be CPA. We have audited our surgical experience with regard to risk factors for relapse, and the value of postoperative monitoring of Aspergillus-immunogolubulin G (IgG) titres. METHODS All patients with CPA surgically treated at National Aspergillosis Centre (NAC), Manchester, UK (2007–2018), were retrospectively evaluated. Surgical procedures, underlying disorders, Aspergillus-IgG titres (ImmunoCap) and antifungal therapy were evaluated for symptom control, operative complications, CPA relapse and mortality. RESULTS A total of 61 patients with CPA (28 males, 33 females) were operated on primarily for antifungal therapy failure (51%, n = 31) and presumed lung malignancies (38%, n = 23). Procedures included lobectomy (64%, n = 39), wedge resection (28%, n = 17), segmentectomy (n = 3), pneumonectomy (n = 3) and decortication (n = 2). Overall, 25 (41%) patients relapsed, 26 months (standard deviation: 24.8 months) after surgery. Antifungal therapy before surgery (P = 0.002) or both before and after surgery (P = 0.005) were protective for relapse. The relapse rate within 3 years after surgery (33%, n = 20) was higher than the 3–10 years after surgery (8%, n = 5). At the end of follow-up, the median Aspergillus-IgG titre was lower than at relapse in 12 patients (67 vs 126 mg/l) (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS Surgery in these selected patients with CPA resulted in favourable outcomes. Relapse is common after surgical treatment of CPA but can be minimized with antifungal therapy, emphasizing the importance of an accurate diagnosis prior to surgery.