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Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2021

01-12-2021 | Computed Tomography | Case report

Development of cavitary lung disease as a long-term complication of coronavirus disease 2019 in a young previously healthy patient: a case report

Authors: Goar Egoryan, Elise Hyser, Ammar H. Mushtaq, Maria Adriana Yanez-Bello, Daniela Patricia Trelles-Garcia, Harvey J. Friedman, Guillermo Rodriguez-Nava

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Cavities are frequent manifestations of a wide variety of pathological processes involving the lung. There has been a growing body of evidence of coronavirus disease 2019 leading to a cavitary pulmonary disease.

Case presentation

A healthy 29-year-old Filipino male presented to the hospital a couple of months after convalescence from coronavirus disease 2019 with severe pleuritic chest pain, fever, chills, and shortness of breath, and was found to have a cavitary lung lesion on chest computed tomography. While conservative management alone failed to improve the patient’s condition, he ultimately underwent left lung video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery decortication. Even though the surgical pathology revealed only necrosis with dense acute inflammation and granulation tissue with no microorganisms, he gradually improved with medical therapy adjunct with surgical therapy.

Conclusion

Documented cases of cavitary lung disease secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 have been mostly reported in the acute or subacute phase of the infection. However, clinicians should recognize this entity as a late complication of coronavirus disease 2019, even in previously healthy individuals.
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Metadata
Title
Development of cavitary lung disease as a long-term complication of coronavirus disease 2019 in a young previously healthy patient: a case report
Authors
Goar Egoryan
Elise Hyser
Ammar H. Mushtaq
Maria Adriana Yanez-Bello
Daniela Patricia Trelles-Garcia
Harvey J. Friedman
Guillermo Rodriguez-Nava
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-021-02961-9

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