SESSION TITLE: Monday Medical Student/Resident Case Report Posters SESSION TYPE: Med Student/Res Case Rep Postr PRESENTED ON: 10/21/2019 02:30 PM - 03:15 PM INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic, multiorgan, inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas. Although mycobacterial infection has long been a candidate as a causative agent in sarcoidosis, only recently has strong evidence supported a causal connection. Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacterium (RGM), found worldwide in the environment. It is increasingly being recognized as a cause of human disease, including pulmonary infections. Clinical features of progressive RGM lung disease include bilateral lung involvement and fibrocavitary disease. Here, we describe a case of Mycobacterium abscessus infection detected two years after sarcoidosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63 year old Chinese female, who worked as a farmer, presented with episodes of hemoptysis for 33 years, which was treated empirically with azithromycin on multiple occasions, resulting in good response according to the patient. She sought medical advice in the United States several times for the past 5 years. Workup during that period included: Quantiferon, ANA, ANCA, Anti-GBM, which were negative, chest CT remarkable for diffuse tree-in-bud opacities in the left lung, bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pathology demonstrating noncaseating granulomas. She was started on steroids resulting in resolution of fever and hemoptysis. The patient stopped steroids and was lost to follow up. She remained asymptomatic until two years later when hemoptysis recurred. During that time, she was taking antibiotics from China. Repeat chest CT showed several scattered nodular and cavitary densities throughout the left lower lobe in a tree-in-bud morphology (Figure 1). Repeat rheumatological, vasculitis, and fungal panels were negative. Quantiferon TB Gold and MTB PCR were negative. Based on these results, as well as the previous biopsy demonstrating noncaseating granuloma, and the previous response on steroids, she was restarted on high dose steroids. Chest CT repeated 3 days after steroids demonstrated decrease in size and number of the pulmonary nodules. Bronchial washings and BAL samples were positive for M. abscessus. Steroids were tapered, and she was referred to infectious disease for treatment of pulmonary M. abscessus. She received Doxycycline with complete resolution of her symptoms. DISCUSSION: Although the patient's clinical and CT findings were not typical for sarcoidosis, the histopathology and improvement with steroids supported the diagnosis. However, noncaseating granulomas are nonspecific; as it can be seen in various conditions. The histological similarity between sarcoidosis and atypical mycobacterial infection raises the possibility that this patient’s Mycobacterial infection had previously evaded detection. CONCLUSIONS: Mycobacterial infection should be investigated in all patients with sarcoidosis as it could be a causative agent an infection that evaded detection. Reference #1: James DG, Sharma OP. From Hutchinson to now: a historical glimpse. Current opinion in pulmonary medicine. 2002;8(5):416-23. Reference #2: Brownell I, Ramirez-Valle F, Sanchez M, Prystowsky S. Evidence for mycobacteria in sarcoidosis. American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology. 2011;45(5):899-905. Reference #3: Primm TP, Lucero CA, Falkinham JO, 3rd. Health impacts of environmental mycobacteria. Clinical microbiology reviews. 2004;17(1):98-106. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Meily Arevalo, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Cinthya Carrasco Barcenas, source=Web Response My spouse/partner as a Speaker/Speaker's relationship with Salix Please note: $1001 - $5000 Added 03/13/2019 by Ebtesam Islam, source=Web Response, value=Speaker fee No relevant relationships by John Makram, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Haneen Mallah, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Ximena Solis, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Wasawat Vutthikraivit, source=Web Response