Isolated nocardial brain abscess in an immunocompetent patient with lung adenocarcinoma: A case report

Jasmin Hundal; Anagha Nagaraj; Todd Alekshun

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01266

Isolated nocardial brain abscess in an immunocompetent patient with lung adenocarcinoma: A case report

IDCases. 2021 Sep 3:26:e01266. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01266. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jasmin Hundal¹, Anagha Nagaraj², Todd Alekshun³

Affiliations

¹ University of Connecticut Health, Department of Internal Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
² University of Connecticut, School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
³ Hartford HealthCare, Department of Hematology Oncology, Hartford, CT, USA.

Abstract

Brain metastases are common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can often be the presenting symptom. However, it is important to consider other etiologies for brain masses even in patients with a malignancy with a propensity to metastasize. We discuss the case of a 60 year-old immunocompetent male who presented with neurologic deficits thought to be secondary to brain metastases in the setting of an incidentally discovered lung cancer. Instead, the mass proved to be a rare isolated Nocardial brain abscess.

Keywords: Brain abscess; Case report; Immunocompetent; Nocardia; Non-small cell lung cancer.

Publication types

Case Reports