Panniculitis in a Woman With Opportunistic Pulmonary Coinfection by Pneumocystis jirovecii and Cryptococcus neoformans: 18F-FDG PET/CT Revealing the Infection and Assessing Treatment Response

Clin Nucl Med. 2021 Apr 1;46(4):e210-e211. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003420.

Abstract

A 56-year-old woman, with history of psoriasis well controlled on ustekinumab, underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT to explore first onset of histologically proven skin panniculitis of unknown origin. PET/CT showed high uptake in panniculitis lesions in limbs and in a lung opacity suggestive of pneumonia. Based on PET/CT findings, a bronchoalveolar lavage revealed pulmonary coinfection by Pneumocystis jirovecii and Cryptococcus neoformans. Thus, hematogenous dissemination of infection was suspected as etiology of panniculitis. She was treated with fluconazole and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, leading to total resolution of skin lesions. Posttherapeutic PET/CT showed complete metabolic response of skin and pulmonary lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Coinfection / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coinfection / therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cryptococcosis / therapy
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Opportunistic Infections / therapy
  • Pneumocystis carinii / physiology*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / therapy
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18