Needle Aspiration Biopsy Technique in Pulmonary Disease: Application to Therapy

Pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus followed cardiac transplantation in a 58-year-old man. Diagnosis was achieved by needle aspiration biopsy of a single cavitary lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung. A trial of intravenous amphotericin B therapy was unsuccessful in halting progress of the lesion. Needle aspiration of the lesion was repeated and a small polyethylene catheter was threaded into the cavity and left in place for long-term endocavitary irrigations with amphotericin B and sodium iodide. Endocavitary treatment was associated with clinical improvement and decrease in size of the lesion.