Issue: 2014 > October > case report

An African woman with pulmonary cavities: TB or not TB?



CASE REPORT
C.E. Delsing, C. Ruesen, M.J. Boeree, P.A. van Damme, S. Kuipers, R. van Crevel
AbstractPDF

Abstract

Cavitary lung lesions in patients from developing countries are mostly caused by tuberculosis (TB). However, when TB cannot be confirmed, a primary lung abscess caused by anaerobic bacteria from the mouth should be considered, especially in patients with poor dentition. We present a case of a Sudanese woman with a cavitary lung lesion and severe gingivitis. Bulleidia extructa was isolated as a single pathogen from the pulmonary cavity.