已发表论文

真菌球与侵袭性肺毛霉病的预后比较

 

Authors Wang J, Xie N , Zhao R , Zeng H, Chen Y 

Received 29 June 2025

Accepted for publication 21 October 2025

Published 30 October 2025 Volume 2025:18 Pages 5589—5598

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S550430

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 5

Editor who approved publication: Professor Héctor Mora-Montes

Jiayu Wang,1– 4 Naishu Xie,1– 4 Rui Zhao,1– 4 Huihui Zeng,1– 4 Yan Chen1– 4 

1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Medical Research Center for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 4Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Huihui Zeng, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China, Email bonemarrow@csu.edu.cn Yan Chen, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China, Email chenyan99727@csu.edu.cn

Background: Pulmonary mucormycosis is recognized as a highly fatal invasive fungal infection. However, clinical observations have demonstrated unexpectedly favorable outcomes in some patients. This study aimed to compare the clinical presentation, management, and prognosis between patients with fungal balls and invasive pulmonary mucormycosis.
Methods: This observational study included patients diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between 2007 and 2023. Based on imaging characteristics, the patients were divided into invasive pulmonary mucormycosis and fungal balls groups, and the underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, diagnostic method, treatment, and prognosis were analyzed.
Results: Compared to invasive pulmonary mucormycosis patients, pulmonary mucormycosis patients with fungal balls had fewer systemic underlying diseases, such as diabetes, immunosuppression, and more pre-existing lung diseases like bronchiectasis (82.4%) and tuberculosis (64.7%). They exhibited milder symptoms, mainly cough and sputum, with lower CRP and ESR levels. Pulmonary mucormycosis patients with fungal balls typically involved a single upper lobe, while invasive pulmonary mucormycosis patients often had bilateral lung involvement. Ten pulmonary mucormycosis patients with fungal balls treated surgically without antifungal therapy still had favorable prognoses than those with invasive disease.
Conclusion: Compared to invasive pulmonary mucormycosis patients, pulmonary mucormycosis patients with fungal balls exhibit milder clinical symptoms and more favorable prognosis. Surgical intervention might play a critical role in the management of pulmonary mucormycosis patients.

Keywords: pulmonary mucormycosis, fungal balls, infection, favorable prognosis