Oxalosis Around a Pulmonary Fungus Ball (Aspergilloma)

A 41-year-old man with a previous history of tuberculosis pre­sented with hemoptysis and a pulmonary cavitation in the left upper lobe. Persistent hemoptysis ultimately led to left upper lobectomy. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a fungus ball with numerous birefringent calcium oxalate crystals either within the mycelium and in the adjacent lung parenchyma. The final diagnosis was pul­monary aspergilloma with oxalosis. The finding of calcium oxalate crystals in the absence of other oxalosis-related con­ditions can be regarded as a diagnostic clue for Aspergillus infection.