Anti-Infection of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Combined with Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) combined with non-tuberculous Mycobacteria-pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) are very rare in the clinic, and our case is the first patient with NPC combined with NTM-PD. For oncologists, rapid control of the symptoms of infection is essential to the treatment of the primary disease. Case Presentation A 58-year-old man who developed a NTM-PD after chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Granulocytosis after chemotherapy is a major factor in the development of various infectious diseases. Nasopharyngeal tumor was found on MRI of the patient’s head, and nasopharyngeal malignant tumor was considered after pathological examination after endoscopic resection of intranasal lesion, and then nasopharyngeal non-keratonic carcinoma (T4N1M0, stage IV) was confirmed in the department of oncology. The patient developed bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy and was admitted to hospital due to septic shock. Chest CT examination indicated pulmonary infection, and empirical antibiotic treatment was not effective. The NGS results showed that the patient was infected with Mycobacterium abscess. We treated with cefoxitin followed by moxifloxacin to reduce the lung lesions significantly. Conclusion NPC with NTM-PD is very rare, and the treatment of NTM-PD is very important for the prognosis of the patient’s primary disease. Our study provides experience for anti-infection treatment of patients with immunosuppression.