A man with adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) underwent massive spinal cord necrosis caused by
Aspergillus infection. Leukopaenia due to anti-cancer chemotherapy resulted in pulmonary
Aspergillus infection. The aspergilloma was reduced in size by anti-fungal chemotherapy, but paraplegia occurred. At autopsy, the pulmonary aspergilloma was encapsulated and showed no contiguous extension of the infection to the epidural or subdural spaces or spinal cord. However, at the T5 level of the spinal cord, there was marked necrosis with haemorrhage caused by
Aspergillus infection, but without leukaemic cell infiltration of the spinal cord. Dichotomously branching
Aspergillus hyphae filled the blood vessels of the T5 level of the spinal cord.
Key words Paraplegia - Spinal cord necrosis -
Aspergillus infection - Adult T-cell leukaemia