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Case Reports
. 2020 Mar 20:20:e00747.
doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00747. eCollection 2020.

Unexpected etiology of a pleural empyema in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Capnocytophaga ochracea

Samantha A Basco  1 , Gregory M Steele  2 , Andrés F Henao-Martínez  3 , Carlos Franco-Paredes  3   4 , Daniel B Chastain  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

Unexpected etiology of a pleural empyema in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Capnocytophaga ochracea

Samantha A Basco et al. IDCases. .

Abstract

Pleural effusions and empyemas caused by Capnocytophaga spp. are uncommon with few cases previously reported. Here, we present the case of a 62-year-old man with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) complicated by a pleural empyema caused by C. ochracea. The route of acquisition was likely the result of aspiration of C. ochracea coupled with the immune defects associated with untreated CLL.

Keywords: Capnocytophaga; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Empyema; Pleural effusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Computed tomography (CT) scan chest coronal view demonstrated a large, loculated left pleural effusion (17.2 cm anteroposterior x11 cm transverse x25.1 cm craniocaudal) with multiple septations, compressive atelectasis adjacent to the left effusion with near complete collapse of the left lower lobe and partial collapse of the left upper lobe.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Computed tomography (CT) scan chest coronal (A) and axial (B) views again demonstrated large complex effusion/empyema in the left lung (12 cm anteroposterior x 7 cm transverse x 19.3 cm craniocaudal) with multiple air foci within the collection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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