CASE REPORTS   

Minerva Pneumologica 2010 September;49(3):205-9

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Chlamydophilia pneumoniae pulmonary infection in patients with thyroid dysplasia: Considerations for use of PET/CT

Pontillo A., Del Giudice G., Pedicelli I., La Cerra G., D’ Antò R., Luciani E., Corcione N., Turino C., Iadevaia C., Bianco A., Marzo C.

¹ Dipartimento di Scienze Cardio-Toraciche e Respiratorie, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italia 2 Dipartimento di Scienze per la Salute, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Campobasso, Università degli Studi del Molise Campobasso, Italia 3 Seconda Università di Napoli, Medicina e Chirurgia, Napoli, Italia

An unusual presentation of Chlamydophilia Pneumoniae respiratory infection mimicking pulmonary malignancy is reported. Three areas of pulmonary consolidations were identified on PET/CT, during screening for suspected thyroid cancer. Diagnosis of infection was carried out by detection of serum antibodies for C. Pneumoniae and complete resolution of the areas of pulmonary consolidation was obtained after specific antibiotic therapy. This case suggests that positive PET is not an absolute indicator for malignancy and C. Pneumoniae respiratory infections can potentially exhibit positive uptake on PET.