March 2022 Pulmonary Case of the Month: A Sore Back Leading to Sore Lungs

Abstract

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. History of Present Illness An 82-year-old woman from Colorado was referred because of progressive shortness of breath over the past year. Her primary care physician had prescribed Trelegy® which did not improve her dyspnea. An outside pulmonologist noted abnormal findings on her thoracic CT scan and a bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was preformed which was positive for Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC). She was treated with a 3-drug regimen (azithromycin, rifampin, ethambutol) for 6 months with mild improvement. After the treatment was stopped, she noted more dyspnea and required supplemental oxygen. She underwent a fundoplication and initially improved but a month later her shortness of breath seemed to worsen. She was started on prednisone which was tapered to 10 mg/day. She was referred to the Mayo Clinic for possible VATS lung biopsy. Past Medical History (PMH), Social History (SH), Family History (FH) PMH • Hiatal Hernia/GERD • Ulcerative Colitis • Hypertension • Chronic back …