Lung cancer patient with Tropheryma whipplei and Nocardia co-infection.

Abstract

A 34-year-old male presented with lung shadow and was asymptomatic during medical examination. The patient had a prior history of thyroid tumors. Imaging manifestation showed a nodule in the medial segment of the right middle lobe, with partial obstruction of the distal bronchus within the lesion. Ground-glass and inflammatory nodules were observed in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe, as well as chronic inflammatory changes in the lower lobe of the right lung. Lung histopathological examination suggested invasive adenocarcinoma. A morphological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed the presence of Tropheryma whipplei (TW) and Nocardia. Although TW infection has been reported in cancer patients, co-infection with Nocardia is a unique occurrence in this case. Opportunistic pathogens are common in immunocompromised patients but in this case, the patient was a young adult with normal immunity and an early-stage tumor with TW and Nocardia co-infection. We demonstrated the presence of rare microorganisms through imaging findings, combined with different staining methods of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue sections and evaluation of morphological characteristics. The aim of the present study was to provide early diagnosis and treatment of patients by improving microbial morphological detection.