Non-small cell lung carcinoma with concomitant localized pulmonary melioidosis: A rare co-existing disease

Abstract

Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, water-and-soil gram-negative bacteria predominantly found in Southeast Asia and Australia. Herein, we reported a 63-year-old Thai man presenting with prolonged fever, non-productive cough, and weight loss for 3 months. He underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation 4 years ago and was on many immunosuppressive agents after transplantation. At presentation, his chest radiograph showed a mass-like lesion in the left upper lobe. Histopathological examination of a transthoracic needle lung biopsy yielded adenocarci-noma, while tissue culture grew for B. pseudomallei. He was diagnosed with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (T4N0M0) co-existing with localized pulmonary melioidosis. After intensive and eradication therapy for melioidosis, his well-being improved with the resolution of fever. He sequentially underwent left upper lobectomy, but the procedure was not accomplished due to severe adhesions surrounding the left lung and great vessels. After surgery, he received concurrent chemoradiation therapy for his lung cancer. Nevertheless, the disease progressed, and he finally passed away. Since fever is not a common manifestation of lung cancer, co-existing infection, such as tuberculosis, fungal infection, and melioidosis, should always be excluded in patients suspected of having lung cancer presenting with unexplained fever.