Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor due to Coxiella burnetii. Case report and literature review

Microbes Infect. 2015 Nov-Dec;17(11-12):795-8. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.08.008. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Abstract

A 58-year-old man was admitted because of respiratory failure, episodic fever with chilling, cough, malaise, fatigue, myalgia and weight loss lasting for at least one month. Chest x-rays and CT scan of the chest showed bilateral pulmonary consolidations in upper lobes, the left lower lobe, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Bronchoscopy with cytology was unremarkable. A needle CT-guided lung biopsy documented an inflammatory pseudotumor, lymphoplasmacytic type. Serology showed high titer antibodies to phase II Coxiella burnetii infection. Therapy with doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for three months led to a complete resolution of symptoms and radiological findings, and a marked decrease in titers to Q fever.

Keywords: Coxiella burnetii; Infection; Pulmonary pseudotumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology
  • Coxiella burnetii / pathogenicity*
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* / diagnostic imaging
  • Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* / drug therapy
  • Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* / microbiology
  • Q Fever / drug therapy
  • Q Fever / microbiology
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Doxycycline