The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 52, 868-870, Copyright © 1991 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Primary Aspergillus osteomyelitis of the sternum
WA Walker and JW Pate
Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis 38163.
We report 2 cases of primary sternal osteomyelitis caused by Aspergillus;
previously reported cases have been complications of sternotomy. Both
patients were healthy young men with recent intravenous drug abuse. No
other focus or predisposing factors were found. Both were treated with
partial sternectomy and chondrectomy; 1 received long-term amphotericin B
therapy. Both are doing well 2 1/2 years after operation. Drug usage,
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and medical immunosuppression may lead
to other cases.