[Solitary pulmonary nodule due to Mycobacterium intracellulare showing intense uptake on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography].

ABSTRACT

A 71-year-old woman with no respiratory symptoms, was admitted because of a solitary pulmonary nodule on a chest radiograph. Computed tomography revealed a 2.0 cm nodule with pleural indentation in the right S2. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission (18F-FDG-PET) showed positive tumor uptake (maximum standardized uptake value = 4.8). Bronchoscopy yielded no specific histological or bacterial findings. Lung biopsy using video-associated thoracoscopy revealed an epithelial granuloma with caseation, but no acid-fast bacilli were detected. PCR revealed Mycobacterium intracellulare (M. intracellulare). A solitary nodule caused by M. intracellulare is rare, but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis even with intense uptake on 18F-FDG-PET.