Aspergillosis of ethmoid sinus and optic nerve, with arteritis and rupture of the internal carotid artery

Abstract

A 54-year-old woman had been treated 26 years previously for Hodgkin's disease. Eight months before presentation, the disease had recurred and the patient had received cytotoxic drugs and steroids. She presented with loss of vision of the right eye and died 5 months later from extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage. Postmortem examination revealed an aspergillus abscess of the ethmoid sinus, extending to the right frontal lobe and optic nerve, and to the wall of the right internal carotid artery (ICA). Death was due to rupture of the ICA. Such a presentation of aspergillosis is unusual. Three cases of aspergillus arteritis causing rupture of the ICA have been reported previously.