Pneumocystis Pneumonia in a Non-Immunocompromised Lung Cancer Patient after Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

We present the Pneumocystis pneumonia case of a 64-year-old man with no remarkable history except for hypertension, who had not undergone any treatment other than surgery. On postoperative day 7, high-resolution computed tomography findings revealed multifocal ground-glass opacifications with interlobular septal thickening in both lungs; therefore, atypical pneumonia was suspected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test performed after bronchoalveolar lavage was positive for Pneumocystis jirovecii (P jirovecii). Based on the PCR results, a final diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) was made. After treatment, he improved and was discharged. This is a unique case of PCP diagnosis in a non-immunocompromised patient, with no remarkable history except for hypertension, who had not undergone any treatment other than surgery for cancer. Thus, it is necessary to consider additional risk factors for PCP and timing of preventive treatment.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia (PCP) in a Non-HIV Lung Cancer Patient in the Absence of Common Risk Factors

“…Although this infection is rare, there have been cases reported in the literature. Tae-woo Kim et al reported a similar case of PCP pneumonia in a non-immunocompromised lung cancer patient [ 10 ]. The only difference was that the patient in that case had received surgery for the cancer, rather than radiotherapy as in our case.…”