[Systemic nocardiosis with mediastinal lymph node involvement proven by endoscopic ultrasound]

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic nocardiosis is an infectious disease that is rarely associated with mediastinal lymph nodes.

Case report: We report the case of a 72-year-old male patient treated with a high dose of oral corticosteroids for rheumatoid polyarthritis. This patient presented with rapid overall deterioration associated with mediastinal lymph nodes. Endobronchial ultrasound enabled us to establish a diagnosis of systemic nocardiosis. The patient recovered after having received suitable antibiotic treatment for four months.

Conclusion: This work reports on a rare clinical presentation of systemic nocardiosis associated with mediastinal lymphadenopathies and highlights the key role of endobronchial ultrasound in diagnosing mediastinal lymph nodes, especially in differential diagnosis for lung cancer.

Keywords: Adénopathie médiastinale; Cardiac surgery; Chirurgie cardiaque; Cytoponction sous échoendoscopie bronchique; Endobronchial ultrasound; Mediastinal lymphadenopathy; Needle aspiration biopsy Nocardia infections; Nocardia; Pericarditis; Péricardite.