Pyoderma gangrenosum is a chronic sterile skin disorder that is frequently seen in association with systemic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Extracutaneous pyoderma gangrenosum is rare and most commonly occurs in the lungs. It is particularly unusual for extracutaneous pyoderma gangrenosum to manifest prior to skin findings and without an associated systemic disorder. A 19-year-old white man presented with shortness of breath and a productive cough. His skin exam was normal. Unenhanced chest computed tomography showed peripheral consolidations, areas of cavitation, nodules and bilateral pleural effusions. A bronchoalveolar lavage and an autoimmune panel were unremarkable. Right lung wedge biopsies via thoracostomy was performed and showed pulmonary pyoderma gangrenosum. He was treated with corticosteroids and has returned back to his baseline. This is the first case of pulmonary pyoderma gangrenosum without any associated underlying systemic disorder and without any cutaneous manifestations to date. Serial follow-ups are necessary to assess for the development of an associated systemic disorder or skin lesions.
Keywords: extracutaneous pyoderma gangrenosum; granulomatosis with polyangiitis; inflammatory bowel disease; pulmonary pyoderma gangrenosum.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.