[Mycobacterium kansasii lung infection and synchronous bronchopulmonary carcinoma]

The association of lung tuberculosis and carcinoma of the lung is very well-known, although it is exceptional the synchronous presentation of lung infection for nontuberculous mycobacteria and lung carcinoma. We present the case of a 41 year old male, smoker, with antecedents of lung tuberculosis in the adolescence and chronic liver disease for virus B and C that he presents fever, hoarseness and loss of 4 kg of weight of a month of evolution. The CT scan of the chest revealed a lung mass in left apex with pneumonitis, tumor invading chest wall and mediastinal lymph node enlargement. The biopsy of a supraclavicular node showed metastasis of squamous carcinoma, while in the sputum was isolated Mycobacterium kansasii sensitive to rifampin and ethambutol. HIV was negative. The possible mechanisms of this uncommon association are commented, next to a revision of the literature.