Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Organizing Pneumonia Associated with <i>Mycobacterium fortuitum</i> Infection

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 68-year-old man diagnosed with invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lungs. Chest computed tomography showed subpleural ground-glass opacity and small nodules with cavitation. A culture of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid resulted in the detection of Mycobacterium fortuitum. The patient's lung consolidation rapidly progressed; however, repeated bronchoscopy showed no atypical cells, thus suggesting a diagnosis of organizing pneumonia associated with M. fortuitum infection. However, the surgical biopsy specimen was diagnostic for adenocarcinoma, with no mycobacterial infection. Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma should not be excluded in the differential diagnosis of patients with clinical features of organizing pneumonia and nontuberculous mycobacterium infection, even if a transbronchial biopsy confirms the absence of malignancy.

Confluent cavitated nodules in invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma: A case report

“…Although the clinical presentation may show non-cavitary alterations, cases with cavitary lesions tend to have a poor prognosis due to complications and the rapid deterioration of patients, as we reported in this case, coinciding with other previous reports [7,12]. Upon patient admission, an infectious process associated with tuberculosis or pneumonia was considered due to the radiological characteristics, as has been reported in IMA with mycobacterium fortuitum infection [13]. It is important to consider IMA with cavitary radiologic features as part of the differential diagnosis.…”

Pulmonary invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma mimicking pulmonary actinomycosis

“…He was diagnosed with organizing pneumonia associated with Mycobacterium fortuitum infection by the BLAF culture. However, the surgical biopsy specimen was diagnostic for IMA, with no mycobacterial infection [8]. Beom et al reported a case of a 64-year-old woman with a six-month history of cough, febrile sensation, and shortness of breath.…”

Computerized margin and texture analyses for differentiating bacterial pneumonia and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma presenting as consolidation

“…Further, not only bacterial pneumonia but other diseases such as fungal infection, organizing pneumonia, and even consolidative lymphoma might mimic invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. [3; 21] Prospective studies that focus on margin information in various pulmonary diseases are needed and we speculate that this margin analysis method could be applied to other diseases to differentiate cancer and mimickers.…”