Granulomatous mediastinitis due to aspergillus flavus in a nonimmunosuppressed patient

A patient with granulomatous mediastinitis due to Aspergillus flavus is described. A 22 year old black man presented with cough, fever and a right hilar mass. Mediastinal biopsies revealed granulomatous fibrosing mediastinitis with fungal elements compatible with aspergillus species. A. flavus was isolated on culture of this material and later from sputum and bronchial washings. Studies of the patient's immune status revealed normal humoral and cellular immunity. No underlying neoplasm was found. The patient was treated with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine but esophageal and superior vena caval compression developed and he died. This is the first reported case of granulomatous mediastinitis due to A. flavus in a patient whose immune responses were not suppressed (nonimmunosuppressed patient). Infection with Aspergillus species should be considered in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous mediastinitis.