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Case Reports
. 2021 Feb 1;60(3):453-456.
doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.5120-20. Epub 2020 Sep 19.

Peribronchial Connective Tissue Infection Caused by Bifidobacterium longum and Veillonella Species Mimicking Lung Cancer

Yasuo Takiguchi  1 , Masaru Nagayosi  1 , Yukiko Matsuura  1 , Yoko Akiba  2 , Akira Naito  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Peribronchial Connective Tissue Infection Caused by Bifidobacterium longum and Veillonella Species Mimicking Lung Cancer

Yasuo Takiguchi et al. Intern Med. .

Abstract

An 86-year-old woman was admitted for the investigation of atelectasis of the upper lobe of her right lung with a mass shadow in the hilum (Golden S sign). Chest computed tomography revealed swollen connective tissue around the right bronchus, and needle aspirate grew Bifidobacterium longum and Veillonella species. She was diagnosed with peribronchial connective tissue infection, and her condition improved with antibiotics. Although this sign is strongly suggestive of malignant disease, benign disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Pulmonary infection caused by Bifidobacterium longum is extremely rare; however, clinicians should consider it as a possible cause of pulmonary infections.

Keywords: Bifidobacterium longum, Veillonella; Golden S sign; peribronchial connective tissue infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A chest radiograph showing collapse of the upper lobe of the right lung over a reverse S-shaped minor fissure (Golden S sign).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Bronchoscopy on day 5 showing edematous mucous membrane in the right upper lobe bronchus.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
A, B: Chest contrast-enhanced CT on day 7 showing enhanced swollen connective tissues around the right bronchus.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
A, B: Chest contrast-enhanced CT on day 73 showing that the swollen connective tissue around the right bronchus had disappeared.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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