Open AccessMultiple infected lung bullae associated with Mycobacterium intracellulare in a Japanese man
Author(s) -
Kodama Tatsuya,
Kurokawa Atsushi,
Kokuto Hiroyuki
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.734
Subject(s) - medicine , bulla (seal) , lung , left lung , percutaneous , radiology , pathology , anatomy
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)‐infected lung bulla was a rare type of pulmonary non‐tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. A 29‐year‐old man with a history of tetralogy of Fallot was admitted to our hospital because of a high fever and left chest pain. Chest computed tomography showed two bullae with intrabullous fluid in both the lower lobes and centrilobular small nodular shadow in the right upper lobe and the left lower lobe. Culture of bronchoscopic washing specimen from the right upper lobe bronchus and left lower lobe one and purulent fluid drained from the bulla in the left lower lobe revealed Mycobacterium intracellulare . Percutaneous drainage from the left bulla and anti‐NTM treatment were performed. Afterwards, symptoms improved and two intrabullous fluid disappeared. Therefore, a diagnosis of multiple infected lung bullae associated with M. intracellulare was made. This is the first documented case of multiple infected lung bullae associated with MAC.