Pulmonary abscess and Pyoderma gangrenosum

• Published in: Médecine et maladies infectieuses Vol. 37; no. 12; pp. 835 - 839
• Main Authors: Mirkamali, A, Martha, B, Dutronc, Y, Ponnelle, T, Pana, L, Favrolt, N, Chavanet, P, Bernard, A, Piroth, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.12.2007
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Humans; Lung Abscess - complications; Lung Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Lung Abscess - drug therapy; Lung Abscess - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - complications; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - diagnostic imaging; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - drug therapy; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - pathology; Radiography
• ISSN: 0399-077X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medmal.2007.05.002

Pyoderma gangrenosum is the ulcerative form of neutrophilic dermatoses. The most frequent extracutaneous localizations are the lungs, joints, and digestive tract. We report a case of Pyoderma gangrenosum, which presented first as an aseptic lung abscess. The first cutaneous lesions occurred 9 months later, with skin ulcerations on the thorax and on surgical scars. The histological diagnosis was made on skin biopsies. There was no associated abnormality except for IgA monoclonal gammapathy. Clinical improvement was noted with immunosuppressive treatment. This infrequent case report underlines that lung abscesses may be of non-infectious origin, that in Pyoderma gangrenosum, skin lesions may be come several months after extracutaneous manifestations, among which lungs abcesses are the most frequent.