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Case Reports
. 2022 Aug 29;3(4):253-256.
doi: 10.36518/2689-0216.1361. eCollection 2022.

COVID-19 and Lung Cavitation: A Clue to Pathogenesis?

Tanner W Norris  1 , Blake M Snyder  2 , Patryk Purta  2 , Ryan P Spilman  2   3 , Vanessa J Craig  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

COVID-19 and Lung Cavitation: A Clue to Pathogenesis?

Tanner W Norris et al. HCA Healthc J Med. .

Abstract

Description Lung cavitation as a complication of COVID-19 is rare. A 56-year-old male presented with lung cavitation, small volume hemoptysis, and violaceous discoloration of the right great toe, 5 weeks after diagnosis with COVID-19 pneumonia. The digital changes were consistent with previously described microvascular changes called "COVID toe." CT angiography of the chest was negative for pulmonary embolism but showed a 2.5 x 3.1 x 2.2 cm cavitation within the right lung. Extensive evaluation for commonly implicated infectious and autoimmune causes was negative. We concluded that the cavitary lung lesions were likely a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia and may implicate microangiopathy as an important component of pathogenesis. This case highlights a rare complication of COVID-19 of which clinicians should be aware.

Keywords: COVID-19/complications; COVID-19/diagnosis; SARS-CoV-2; lung cavitation; lung diseases; male; thoracic radiography; viral pneumonia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
AP portable CXR 5 weeks after diagnosis with COVID-19 demonstrates bilateral peripheral pulmonary infiltrates.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Right great toe shows dorsal erythema and edema, consistent with "COVID toe".
Figure 3
Figure 3
A–B) Axial chest CT images 5 weeks after diagnosis with COVID-19 show a 2.5 X 3.1 X 2.2 cm cavitary lung lesion in the posterior right upper lobe. C) Axial chest CT images 5 weeks after diagnosis with COVID-19 show a 2.5 X 3.1 X 2.2 cm cavitary lung lesion in the coronal view.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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