Diagnostic Challenges in mNGS for Pulmonary Mucormycosis Presenting with Imaging Features Resembling Those of Lung Cancer.
Huajun Yang, Xi Lei
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 67-year-old woman with diabetes presented with cough and sputum production. Imaging suggested lung cancer due to a right hilar mass, bronchial obstruction, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. However, metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid identified Rhizopus oryzae, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis. Treatment with amphotericin B and posaconazole resulted in clinical improvement and resolution of the infection on follow-up imaging.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider pulmonary mucormycosis in patients with imaging findings resembling lung cancer, especially in those with risk factors such as diabetes.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of advanced diagnostic techniques like mNGS in differentiating between fungal infections and malignancies.