[Case of an HTLV-1 carrier complicated with chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis].

ABSTRACT

A 58-year-old man was admitted with complaints of pain in the right upper right side of the chest. Chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. A CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy and transbronchial lung biopsy of this lesion did not yield a definitive diagnosis; therefore, we performed video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We also investigated various types of mycosis because he had several records of overseas travel. At a later day, the histoplasma immunodiffusion test showed positive results. We finally diagnosed pulmonary histoplasmosis based on the clinical course, CT and radiographic images and serological tests. Voriconazole improved the patient's subjective symptoms and laboratory findings. A positive reaction was obtained for anti-human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antibody and the HTLV-1 carrier, confirming his immunodeficiency disorder. We raised the possibility that the development of pulmonary histoplasmosis might be associated with the HTLV-1 carrier.