Pulmonary Aspergillus niger intracavitary colonization. Report of 23 cases and a review of the literature.

In this study we have compared clinical data obtained from 40 reported cases of pulmonary Aspergillus niger intracavitary colonization in the literature and those of our series 23 cases. Additionaly six of our cases have been summarized. Our findings revealed a similar occurrence of male sex, active tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, systemic oxalosis, and lethal outcome in both groups. In conclusion, A. niger is not the most frequent causative agent of saprophytic aspergillosis neither is the most pathogenic species of Aspergillus. Despite that, when pulmonary A. niger intracavitary colonization is associated with diabetes the prognosis is generaly poor, probably due to acute oxalosis.