Megaesophagus and pneumonia associated with Mycobacterium chelonei. A case report and a literature review

Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 Dec;116(6):1101-7. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1977.116.6.1101.

Abstract

The case of a 37-year-old woman who developed a subacute, bilateral, noncavitary pneumonia 5 years after a colon interposition esophagoplasty is presented. Mycobacterium chelonei, subspecies abscessus, was assigned a pathogenic role based on the findings of (1) a clinical and roentgenographic picture consistent with tuberculosis, (2) sputum smears showing acid-fast bacilli, (3) repeated sputum cultures yielding heavy growths of Mycobacterium chelonei, subspecies abscessus, and (4) a 12-mm by 12 mm-skin test response to homologous antigen (purified protein derivative-CL) with no response to an equivalent dose of purified protein derivative-S. The patient recovered fully without significant antituberculous chemotherapy. A survey of the literature revealed 11 similar case reports featuring a documented association between megaesophagus and pulmonary infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Colon / transplantation
  • Esophageal Diseases / complications
  • Esophagoplasty / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium Infections* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumonia / etiology*
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Radiography