Article Type : Case Report
Authors : Cierra W, Christine D, and Dhiren P
Keywords : Dysphagia; Thoracoscopic; Francisella tularensis
This case is a rare presentation of tularemia. One other
case has been reported in the literature describing tularemia in an otherwise
healthy adult with pulmonary infiltrates, as well as mediastinal and hilar
necrotizing lymphadenopathy. This case demonstrates the importance of the
differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with dysphagia and/or
odynophagia. Extrinsic compression of the esophagus should be considered and
evaluated for carefully particularly if endoscopy is suggestive.
A 13 year old male presented with a 10-day history
of progressively worsening epigastric pain with acute onset of dysphagia and
odynophagia with solids. He endorsed periodic chest tightness and sensation of
food becoming stuck in his upper chest upon swallowing, but denied vomiting,
decreased appetite, weight loss, fever, diarrhea, or bloody stools. He did not
have a history of anxiety disorder, cardiac disease, or pulmonary disease. Of
note he was diagnosed clinically with Lyme disease after a tick bite to the
left arm one and half months prior to presentation. He was treated with
doxycycline for 2 days, however, this was discontinued secondary to abdominal
pain. He then completed a two week course of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. In
addition, four days prior to presentation, the patient sustained a left elbow
fracture and arm was casted covering the initial site of the tick bite [1-3].
Upon admission, he underwent evaluation with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy which revealed a tortuous and irregular esophageal course suggesting possible extrinsic compression of the mid-esophagus with erythema of the overlying mucosa (Figure 1). Histology showed only mild esophagitis without significant eosinophilic infiltration. An esophagram was performed showing extrinsic compression of the mid-thoracic esophagus with no obstruction (Figure 2). A magnetic resonance imaging of the chest with and without contrast demonstrated a 4.8 cm heterogeneously enhancing solid subcarinal mass, hilar lymphadenopathy, and right-sided pulmonary nodules (Figure 3). The patient underwent thoracoscopic biopsy and resection of the posterior mediastinal mass. Histological assessment demonstrated necrotizing granuloma formation with fibrosis and calcification, however, no acid-fast bacilli, yeast, or hyphae were observed.
Figure 1: Mid-esophagus with erythema of the overlying mucosa.
Figure 2: Mid-thoracic esophagus with no obstruction.
Figure 3: Hilar lymphadenopathy, and right-sided pulmonary nodules.
Due to concern for granulomatous disease, infectious
disease was consulted and additional testing was negative for histoplasmosis
and lyme disease. In outpatient follow-up, the family noted that upon removal
of the patient’s cast on his left arm, he had purulent drainage from the site
of the previous tick bite. He was subsequently tested at this visit for
tularemia and serum IgG for Francisella
tularensis was found to be significantly elevated with a titer of 1:64 and
IgM was negative. He was given an empiric course of ciprofloxacin at the time
of lab draw.
The differential diagnosis for pediatric patients
with dysphagia includes etiologies such as eosinophilic esophagitis, infectious
esophagitis, anatomical abnormalities, achalasia/esophageal motility disorders,
behavioral causes, malignancy, and extrinsic compression. This case represents
an unusual etiology of dysphagia in a previously healthy adolescent male. After
careful endoscopic evaluation and imaging, it was obvious that mucosal disease
was not present. Extrinsic compression of the esophagus can be a result of
infectious, anatomical, or oncological etiologies. In our case, this
compression was due to necrotizing granuloma from a tularemia infection.
Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative
coccobacillus which can be transmitted to humans via tick bite or through the
handling of infected animals. Symptoms vary depending on mode of bacterial
entry. Main forms of tularemia include ulceroglandular, glandular,
oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, and typhoidal. Treatment includes
appropriate antibiotic selection and course. Common choices include
streptomycin, gentamycin, fluoroquinolone, or tetracycline. Our patient was
treated with ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for a 7 day course.
This case is a rare presentation of tularemia. One
other case has been reported in the literature describing tularemia in an
otherwise healthy adult with pulmonary infiltrates, as well as mediastinal and
hilar necrotizing lymphadenopathy. This case demonstrates the importance of the
differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with dysphagia and/or
odynophagia. Extrinsic compression of the esophagus should be considered and
evaluated for carefully particularly if endoscopy is suggestive.