Tracheobronchial Manifestations of Aspergillus Infections

Figure 1

Classification of the Aspergillus-related respiratory diseases based on their pathogenesis, including the status of antifungal defense and the type of host-fungus relationship (upper and middle row, respectively) (based on [13], modified).* In many patients, a true saprophytic nature of the infection is difficult to prove and might be questionable. Note, that in fact, not only vertical (showed with arrows), but also horizontal relationships might exist in the middle and bottom rows (e.g., saprophytic forms can evolve into invasive forms; relationships not shown); EEA: extrinsic allergic alveolitis, ABPA: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, IPA: invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, ITBA: invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis.