Pulmonary tuberculosis associated acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a rare histological interstitial pneumonia pattern characterized by patches of “fibrin balls” distributed within the alveoli and organizing pneumonia. Currently, there is no consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Methods: We present the case of a 44-year-old male with AFOP secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We have further reviewed organizing pneumonia (OP) and AFOP caused by tuberculosis. Conclusion: Tuberculosis secondary to OP or AFOP is rare and challenging to diagnose. We need to constantly adjust the treatment plan based on the patient's symptoms, test results, and response to treatment in order to arrive at an accurate diagnosis and maximize treatment efficacy.