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https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2019.58.03.20

Nocardial Brain Abscess Mimicking Lung Cancer Metastasis in Immunocompetent Patient with Pulmonary Nocardiasis: A Case Report

Mladen Karan ; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Nada Vučković ; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; Pathology and Histology Center, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Petar Vuleković ; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Ante Rotim ; Department of Neurosurgery, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Nebojša Lasica ; Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Lukas Rasulić ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Nocardia is a ubiquitous microorganism which can be the cause of local and disseminated infection in humans. Immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients both can be affected and Nocardia cyriacigeorgica was reported as a pathogen isolated in patients worldwide. In most cases, nocardiosis is present as pulmonary infection because inhalation is the primary way of bacterial exposure. Nocardial brain abscess occurs usually secondary to a septic focus elsewhere in the body. Considering the facts that the elderly population is growing, such as the number of immunocompromised patients together with high mortality rate in patients with nocardial infection of the central nervous system, we have to raise aware-ness of the possibility for this rare but potentially fatal condition. We present a case where nocardial ab-scesses of lung and brain were initially suspected as lung cancer with brain metastases. The patient was treated with a combination of surgical resection and antimicrobial therapy with good outcome.

Keywords

Nocardia, infections; Brain abscess; Lung neoplasms; Case reports

Hrčak ID:

230278

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/230278

Publication date:

1.9.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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