Approaching cavitary lung lesion in a patient with pulmonary embolism

Abstract

The pulmonary cavity may reflect the presence of a broad spectrum of lung pathological processes, with surprising etiology at times. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, embolism, malignancy, and autoimmune disease may be involved in its formation. We present the case of a 78 year-old patient who was hospitalized 7 days prior to admission to our hospital with grade IV mMRC dyspnea and dry cough, the chest CT indicating pulmonary embolism and the presence of a pulmonary cavity, suggestive of neoplastic etiology. An infection with Staphylococcus aureus complicated with pulmonary embolism, two pathological entities which can lead to cavitary pulmonary damage, can prove challenging to any physician in the given context.