Lady Windermere syndrome: an inappropriate eponym for an increasingly important condition

Singapore Med J. 2008 Feb;49(2):e47-9.

Abstract

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (NMI) occurs in elderly women with no pre-existing lung disease, and this has been termed the Lady Windermere syndrome. NMIs are increasing in prevalence and an increasing number of pulmonary mycobacterial infections is due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The diagnosis is often difficult because the organism is not readily isolated or cultured, and the condition may not be considered by the radiologist. We report NMI in a 64-year-old woman, based on clinical and radiological findings. Although termed the Lady Windermere syndrome, the name does not correspond to the character in Oscar Wilde's play; hence the eponym is not widely used.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / diagnostic imaging
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / pathology*
  • Syndrome
  • Terminology as Topic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / pathology*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular