A soft tissue lesion caused by Mycobacterium malmoense.
Maria Rodrigues1, Simranjeet Kaur2, Ali Al Khader3,4
1Department of Radiology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal. inesreisrodrigues@gmail.com.
Skeletal Radiology
|March 24, 2025
Summary
A rare soft tissue infection caused by Mycobacterium malmoense was identified in an elderly woman. Prompt diagnosis using advanced imaging and PCR led to effective antibiotic treatment and clinical improvement.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Soft tissue infections can be caused by various pathogens, including atypical mycobacteria.
- Mycobacterium malmoense is an uncommon cause of infection, rarely reported in soft tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of soft tissue infection caused by Mycobacterium malmoense.
- To highlight the diagnostic features and successful treatment of this uncommon infection.
Main Methods:
- Clinical presentation of a non-healing forearm lesion.
- Diagnostic imaging including ultrasound and MRI to characterize subcutaneous nodules.
- Histopathological examination with Ziehl-Neelsen staining and PCR for pathogen identification.
Main Results:
- Biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation and Ziehl-Neelsen-positive microorganisms.
- PCR confirmed Mycobacterium malmoense as the causative agent.
- Combined antibiotic therapy resulted in significant clinical improvement.
Conclusions:
- Mycobacterium malmoense is an uncommon but potential cause of soft tissue infections.
- Multimodality imaging and molecular diagnostics are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Early and appropriate antibiotic treatment can effectively manage these infections.
Keywords:
Mycobacterium malmoenseEnvironmental mycobacteriaGranulomatous inflammationSoft tissue infectionMore Related Videos
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