Raef Fadel Daniel Ouellette Aula Ramo Sophia Binz Odaliz Abreu-Lanfranco
Henry Ford Health System
05-01-2019
Introduction: Pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts encompass a wide differential diagnosis. Of the possible etiologies, Pneumocystis jirovecii presents as a rare cause of necrotizing cavita..
Introduction: Pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts encompass a wide differential diagnosis. Of the possible etiologies, Pneumocystis jirovecii presents as a rare cause of necrotizing cavitary pneumonia, particularly in patients with advanced HIV and AIDS. We present the case of a cavitating lung lesion in a patient with AIDS, as an example of this rare atypical manifestation of Pneumocystis, hoping to increase clinical awareness and assist in prompt diagnosis and management. Case: A 50-year-old male patient presented with progressively worsening cough productive of green blood-tinged sputum of 2-week duration, associated with pleuritic chest pain, night sweats, and diarrhea. Past medical history was significant for AIDS due to HIV-1 with CD-4 count 73/mm3 not on antiretroviral therapy. He was admitted to an outside hospital two months prior for similar symptoms, and chest x-ray at that time demonstrated no acute process (figure 1). On presentation he was tachycardic, tachypneic, and afebrile. Oxygen saturation was 98-100% on room air. Physical examination revealed inspiratory crackles on right upper lung field auscultation with associated dullness to percussion, tenderness in the epigastrium and right upper quadrant of the abdomen, and oral thrush. CXR demonstrated diffuse airspace opacification throughout the right upper lobe (RUL), with internal lucent areas consistent with cavitation (figure 2). A follow-up chest computed tomography (CT) with intravenous contrast demonstrated cavitation of the RUL, with cystic spaces and air fluid levels (figure 3,4). Sputum culture was grossly contaminated with oropharyngeal flora. Three consecutive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) sputum smears were initially negative. Pneumocystis qualitative PCR was positive, with B-D glucan assay (Fungitell) of 239 pg/mL (ref range: