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Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Use of Electromagnetic Navigational Transthoracic Needle Aspiration E-TTNA for Sampling of Lung Nodules
Published on: May 23, 2015
An unexpected finding in a man with multiple pulmonary nodules, a pleural effusion and respiratory failure
1Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
We report the case of a 47-year old Caucasian man with a history of depression and high alcohol intake who presented with a one-month history of weight loss, dry cough and abdominal pain. He had no smoking history of note. The patient was treated for a suspected chest infection, however developed respiratory failure and was intubated. A CT showed multiple pulmonary nodules, left pleural thickening extending to the mediastinum and bilateral pleural effusions-larger on the left, suggestive of disseminated malignancy. A broncho-alveolar lavage surprisingly contained numerous acid-fast bacilli and no malignant cells. Treatment for tuberculosis was initiated and the patient recovered gradually. After several weeks, a pyrazinamide-resistant organism was cultured and subsequently identified to be Mycobacterium Bovis. We discuss this unexpected finding and review the literature on Bovine Tuberculosis in humans.
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