A rare presentation of bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis with concurrent lung abscess: A case report

Abstract

Bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare complication in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus patients and linked to a high patient mortality rate [1]. We present a case of a 62-year-old female patient with bilateral EPN who also developed a concurrent lung abscess. She came with high-grade fever, lethargy, and left flank pain. She had left lumbar tenderness and right-sided chest crepitations. Upon hospitalization, the patient developed septic shock. However, severity of her clinical presentation does not correlate with chest X-ray of right sided pneumonic changes and cavitation of the lungs on admission. Abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed extensive left EPN (Huang-Tseng CT classification: class 4), early right EPN (Huang-Tseng CT classification: class 2), and right middle lobe lung abscess, which was treated with intravenous antibiotics, drainage, and optimal glycaemic management. This was followed by the resolution of sepsis and improvement in clinical status.