• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.60-62
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• 2011

Primary laryngeal aspergillosis is rare, It is most often found in immunocompromised patient, such as leukemia, malignant disease, diabetes or immunosuppressive drugs. These days the occurrences of laryngeal aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients are increasing. The cause of laryngeal aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients is not clear, but a few factors are considered such as iatrogenic factors, vocal abuse, vocal fold cyst and occupational factors. The histopathologic characteristics are somewhat different between that of immunocompromised patients and immunocompetent patients. We report a case of primary vocal cord aspergillosis in immunocompetent patient who had treated with only surgery and brief review of the pertinent literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.359-366
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• 2001

More than half of the cryptococcal infections occur in acquired immune deficiency (AIDS) patients, and more than half of the non-AIDS patients with cryptococcosis are immunocompromised. Most immunocompromised patients have meningoencephalitis at the time of diagnosis. Without the appropriate therapy, this form of the infection is invariably fatal. Death can occur any time from 2 weeks to several years after the onset of symptoms. Pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompromised patients is usually asymptomatic, but coughing, chest pain, fever, or hemoptysis may occur in immunocompetent patients. Pulmonary cryptococcosis symptoms in immunocompetent patients tend to improve without treatment. Here, we describe the various pulmonary manifestations of cryptococcal pneumoniae in three immunocompetent patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.1529-1536
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• 2020

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has been known to occur in immunocompromised patients, but has been rarely reported in immunocompetent patients. In immunocompetent patients, pulmonary fungal infections are not initially considered. This results in diagnosis and treatment delays, as well as poor prognosis. We report a case and serial CT findings of IPA in an immunocompetent 29-year-old male after congenital heart disease surgery.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2004

Purpose: To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. Materials and Methods: CT scans of 25 patients with biopsy-proven cryptococcosis [surgery (n=3), percutaneous needle biopsy (n=21), and bronchoscopic biopsy (n=1)] were analyzed. Thirteen patients were men and 12 patients were women, with a mean age of 53.7 years. Presenting symptoms were cough, sputum, and dyspnea and 12 patients presented with incidentally found chest radiographic abnormalities. Results: Nodule or multiple conglomerate nodules (n=10, 40%) and segmental or lobular consolidation (n=9, 36%) were most common, followed by mixed patterns (n=5, 20%). Predilection sites were lower lobe (n=21/37, 57%) and subpleural areas (n=23, 92%). Air bronchograms within consolidations (n=11/14, 79%) with mild volume loss (n=10/14, 71%) were common. While interlobular septal thickening (n=11, 44%) and cavitation or central low-attenuations (n=11, 44%) were relatively common, lymphadenopathy (n=2, 8%) or free pleural effusions (n=1, 4%) were uncommon. Conclusion: Nodules or airspace consolidation with a predilection of lower lobe and subpleural area are the most common appearances of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.141-144
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• 2014

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is rarely reported in patients who have normal immune function. Recently, IPA risk was reported in nonimmunocompromised hosts, such as patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and critically ill patients in intensive care units. Moreover, influenza infection is also believed to be associated with IPA among immunocompetent patients. However, most reports on IPA with influenza A infection, including pandemic influenza H1N1, and IPA associated with influenza B infection were scarcely reported. Here, we report probable IPA with a fatal clinical course in an immunocompetent patient with influenza B infection. We demonstrate IPA as a possible complication in immunocompetent patients with influenza B infection. Early clinical suspicion of IPA and timely antifungal therapy are required for better outcomes in such cases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.6
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• pp.260-263
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• 2013

Invasive aspergillosis has emerged as a major cause of life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Recently, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have been receiving corticosteroids for a long period, and immunocompetent patients in the intensive care unit have been identified as nontraditional hosts at risk for invasive aspergillosis. Here, we report a case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis after influenza in an immunocompetent patient. The patient's symptoms were nonspecific, and the patient was unresponsive to treatments for pulmonary bacterial infection. Bronchoscopy revealed mucosa hyperemia, and wide, raised and cream-colored plaques throughout the trachea and both the main bronchi. Histologic examination revealed aspergillosis. The patient recovered quickly when treated systemically with voriconazole, although the reported mortality rates for aspergillosis are extremely high. This study showed that invasive aspergillosis should be considered in immunocompetent patients who are unresponsive to antibiotic treatments; further, early extensive use of all available diagnostic tools, especially bronchoscopy, is mandatory.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2019

Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) infection is common and usually asymptomatic in young infants and children. However, EBV infections in transplant recipients and other immunosuppressed patients can be fatal. EBV-related neurological complications in immunocompetent adults are extremely rare and self-limited. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis(ADEM) may also follow EBV infection; ADEM is characterized by abrupt onset and rapid progression. We report an immunocompetent adult patient who developed diffuse meningoencephalitis with ADEM-like features caused by EBV infection. A 35-year-old Vietnamese woman was admitted presenting with urinary retention, altered mental status, and paraplegia. PCR of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid showed positive results for EBV. Brain and spine magnetic resonance imaging showed ADEM-like features. She was treated with acyclovir, steroid, and immunoglobulins. We report the case of an immunocompetent adult Vietnamese woman who presented with rapidly progressive diffuse meningoencephalitis associated with EBV infection and was treated with antivirals, corticosteroids, and immunoglobulins.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.571-575
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• 2006

Mycobacterium avium has been traditionally described as an opportunistic organism that causes disseminated disease in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients and acts as a pulmonary pathogen in patients with underlying lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or previously treated tuberculosis. Infections caused by M. avium in immunocompetent hosts usually manifest as 2 distinct subtypes, the upper lobe cavitary form and the nodular bronchiectatic form. However endobronchial lesions due to M. avium infections in immunocompetent host are reasonably rare, and there are no reports of this condition in Korea. We report here a case of endobronchial lesions involved in an M. avium infection in an immunocompetent 21 year-old female patient with no preexisting lung disease.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.481-492
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in hospitalized immunocompromised patients in comparison with immunocompetent patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed consecutive adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at two academic medical centers between June 2021 and December 2022. Immunocompromised patients (with active solid organ cancer, active hematologic cancer, active immune-mediated inflammatory disease, status post solid organ transplantation, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome) were compared with immunocompetent patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of immune status on severe clinical outcomes (in-hospital death, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit admission), severe radiologic pneumonia (≥ 25% of lung involvement), and typical CT pneumonia. Results: Of 2218 patients (mean age, 69.5 ± 16.1 years), 274 (12.4%), and 1944 (87.6%) were immunocompromised an immunocompetent, respectively. Patients with active solid organ cancer and patients status post solid organ transplantation had significantly higher risks for severe clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio = 1.58 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01-2.47], P = 0.042; and 3.12 [95% CI, 1.47-6.60], P = 0.003, respectively). Patient status post solid organ transplantation and patients with active hematologic cancer were associated with increased risks for severe pneumonia based on chest radiographs (2.96 [95% CI, 1.54-5.67], P = 0.001; and 2.87 [95% CI, 1.50-5.49], P = 0.001, respectively) and for typical CT pneumonia (9.03 [95% CI, 2.49-32.66], P < 0.001; and 4.18 [95% CI, 1.70-10.25], P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 breakthrough infection showed an increased risk of severe clinical outcome, severe pneumonia based on chest radiographs, and typical CT pneumonia. In particular, patients status post solid organ transplantation was specifically found to be associated with a higher risk of all three outcomes than hospitalized immunocompetent patients.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 2018

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with ultrasonography is considered a minimally invasive and safe procedure. Complications of it are infrequent and occur immediately or within a few days after FNA. Such complications may occur mainly in patients with underlying problems. We here report a rare case of thyroid cystic nodule infection occurring 1 month after FNA in an immunocompetent patient and serial sonographic findings in this patient. A 33-year-old woman with a cystic nodule including partially isoechoic solid areas on the right thyroid gland complained of difficulty swallowing and painful sensations in the right neck 1 month after FNA. On follow-up examination, the cystic nodule and perithyroidal soft tissue were suspicious of infection. The possibility of infection after FNA should be considered even if the patient is immunocompetent in order to prompt evaluation and immediate management with empirical antibiotic therapy to avoid life-threatening complications.