Heterogeneity of latent tuberculosis infection in a patient with lung cancer

• Published in: Journal of infection and public health Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 151 - 153
• Main Authors: Yamaguchi, Fumihiro, Minakata, Takao, Miura, Sakiko, Suzuki, Takashi, Sagara, Hironori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: [18F] fluoro-deoxy glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography; Interferon-γ release assay; Latent tuberculosis infection; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Squamous cell lung carcinoma; H&E; Interferon-γ release assay; FDG; HR-CT; PET-CT; [18F] fluoro-deoxy glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography; LTBI; TB; IGRA; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Squamous cell lung carcinoma; MTB; Latent tuberculosis infection; [F] fluoro-deoxy glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography
• ISSN: 1876-0341; 1876-035X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2019.07.009

Latent tuberculosis infection may become a source of tuberculosis dissemination, even in a subclinical case, which have no abnormalities in the pulmonary parenchyma based on imaging studies. In this case, we presented tiny granulomas beside squamous cell carcinoma in a woman positive for interferon-γ release assay (IGRA). She had no symptoms or abnormalities in the parenchyma, except for the primary lesion. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from the mediastinal lymph nodes in concurrence with [18F] fluoro-deoxy glucose uptake. The findings of the present study stress the need for careful attention to the development of tuberculosis in case of a positive IGRA.