title: Endobronchial Enigma: A Clinically Rare Presentation of Nocardia beijingensis in an Immunocompetent Patient.
abstract: Nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the Gram-positive weakly acid-fast, filamentous aerobic Actinomycetes. The lungs are the primary site of infection mainly affecting immunocompromised patients. In rare circumstances even immunocompetent hosts may also develop infection. Diagnosis of pulmonary nocardiosis is usually delayed due to nonspecific clinical and radiological presentations which mimic fungal, tuberculous, or neoplastic processes. The present report describes a rare bronchoscopic presentation of an endobronchial nocardial mass in a 55-year-old immunocompetent woman without underlying lung disease. The patient exhibited signs and symptoms of unresolving community-acquired pneumonia with a computed tomography (CT) scan that showed a space-occupying lesion and enlarged paratracheal lymph node. This patient represents the unusual presentation of pulmonary Nocardia beijingensis as an endobronchial mass. Pathology obtained during bronchoscopy demonstrated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation of nocardiosis. Symptoms and clinical findings improved with antibiotic treatment. This patient emphasizes the challenge in making the diagnosis of pulmonary nocardiosis, especially in a low risk host. A literature review presents the difficulties and pitfalls in the clinical assessment of such an individual.
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 49100 Petah Tikva, Israel; The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdel-Rahman
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 49100 Petah Tikva, Israel; The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izhakian
authors.affiliation: Mayanei HaYeshua Medical Center, 51544 Bnei Brak, Israel; Rambam Health Care Campus, 3109601 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Walter G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wasser
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 49100 Petah Tikva, Israel; The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fruchter
authors.affiliation: The Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 49100 Petah Tikva, Israel; The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Mordechai R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kramer
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