Cavitary Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

SUMMARY A pulmonary cavity is a gas-filled area of the lung in the center of a nodule or area of consolidation and may be clinically observed by use of plain chest radiography or computed tomography. Cavities are present in a wide variety of infectious and noninfectious processes. This review discusses the differential diagnosis of pathological processes associated with lung cavities, focusing on infections associated with lung cavities. The goal is to provide the clinician and clinical microbiologist with an overview of the diseases most commonly associated with lung cavities, with attention to the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the host.

An elderly female with rib osteolytic lesion after recovery from fulminant liver failure induced by acute‐onset autoimmune hepatitis

“…Actinomyces are part of the normal oral flora and colonize the human digestive tract 7, 13, 14. Although the aspiration of saliva containing actinomyces is considered to be responsible for cases of pulmonary actinomycosis, the right rib actinomycosis in this patient might have occurred via hematogenous spread, as there was no invasion from the right lung.…”

“…Risk factors of actinomycosis are poor oral hygiene resulting in tooth decay, chronic lung disease, alcoholism, and other disorders resulting in reduced immunocompetence 7.…”

Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Aspergilloma-Coexistence of Two Rare Sequelae of Pulmonary Embolism

“…Common organisms being gram negative bacteria. Aspergilloma in an infarct cavity is rare [7]. This was a rare happenstance of two uncommon complications of pulmonary embolism occurring together.…”

A Case of Chronic Klebsiella Pneumonia Showing B/L Thick Walled Pulmonary Cavity-A Rare Case Report

“…Therefore we looked at the possibility of other common causes for thick walled cavities namely fungal infection and malignancy. Both aspergilloma of the lung and primary malignancy of the lung are also frequently known to present with cavitation in the lungs with thickening of the cavity walls [2] . The sputum sample was sent for fungal stains and it was found to be negative for fungal elements.…”

“…However certain conditions are more frequently associated with cavities than others. Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and fungi, malignancies tend to be chronic and are common causes of cavity formation in the lungs (2) . Cavities may be thin walled (<4mm) or thick walled (>4mm).…”