Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection Mimicking Lung Cancer in A Patient with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia Pattern Interstitial Lung Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: It has been reported that structure damage in the parenchymal lung disease such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with high susceptibility to nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. Radiologic features of NTM lung disease in destructive lung parenchyma can be atypical, which can cause confusion with other diseases including malignancy. Prompt and accurate identification of newly developed lesions in the follow-up computed tomography (CT) of IPF patients is challenging but crucial.

Case report: We reported a case of an NTM infection in a patient with IPF, manifested as a mass-like consolidation with cavitation on chest CT, mimicking lung cancer.

Conclusion: Being aware of the unusual radiologic features of NTM lung disease in IPF patients can be useful in the differential diagnosis of newly detected lesions.

Keywords: Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection; case report; computed tomography; interstitial lung disease; interstitial pneumonia; lung cancer.