A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Introduction: Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a frequently used bronchoscopic method for sampling centrally located tumors and accessible mediastinal lymph nodes. It is widely employed for staging and obtaining tissue diagnosis in lung cancer, but...

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Main Authors: Viktor Sekowski, Waël Hanna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2025-03-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncology
Online Access:https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000544053
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author Viktor Sekowski
Waël Hanna
author_facet Viktor Sekowski
Waël Hanna
author_sort Viktor Sekowski
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a frequently used bronchoscopic method for sampling centrally located tumors and accessible mediastinal lymph nodes. It is widely employed for staging and obtaining tissue diagnosis in lung cancer, but it can also be used for other conditions with mediastinal lymph node metastases. Although the reported complication rate for EBUS-TBNA varies, it consistently remains low, including for severe infectious complications such as pericarditis and mediastinitis. Case Presentation: We present a unique case of polymicrobial pyogenic pericarditis, mediastinitis, and death in a patient who underwent EBUS-TBNA for the evaluation of solitary mediastinal lymphadenopathy in the background of previously resected renal cell carcinoma. There were no complications during her procedure and her mediastinal lymph node biopsy confirmed metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, 23 days after her procedure, she presented to the emergency department with sepsis and cardiac tamponade. Pericardial fluid cultures and computed tomography imaging confirmed polymicrobial pyogenic pericarditis and mediastinitis. Conclusion: While complications from EBUS-TBNA are rare, clinicians need to be aware that pericarditis and mediastinitis are possible life-threatening complications in order to facilitate early recognition and interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-fdd16c03974e4e659392d01d2caaf27a2025-08-20T02:31:55ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Oncology1662-65752025-03-0118145646110.1159/000544053A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell CarcinomaViktor SekowskiWaël Hanna Introduction: Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a frequently used bronchoscopic method for sampling centrally located tumors and accessible mediastinal lymph nodes. It is widely employed for staging and obtaining tissue diagnosis in lung cancer, but it can also be used for other conditions with mediastinal lymph node metastases. Although the reported complication rate for EBUS-TBNA varies, it consistently remains low, including for severe infectious complications such as pericarditis and mediastinitis. Case Presentation: We present a unique case of polymicrobial pyogenic pericarditis, mediastinitis, and death in a patient who underwent EBUS-TBNA for the evaluation of solitary mediastinal lymphadenopathy in the background of previously resected renal cell carcinoma. There were no complications during her procedure and her mediastinal lymph node biopsy confirmed metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, 23 days after her procedure, she presented to the emergency department with sepsis and cardiac tamponade. Pericardial fluid cultures and computed tomography imaging confirmed polymicrobial pyogenic pericarditis and mediastinitis. Conclusion: While complications from EBUS-TBNA are rare, clinicians need to be aware that pericarditis and mediastinitis are possible life-threatening complications in order to facilitate early recognition and interventions. https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000544053
spellingShingle Viktor Sekowski
Waël Hanna
A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Case Reports in Oncology
title A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
title_full A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
title_fullStr A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
title_short A Case of Post-Endobronchial Ultrasound Polymicrobial Pericarditis and Mediastinitis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
title_sort case of post endobronchial ultrasound polymicrobial pericarditis and mediastinitis in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
url https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000544053
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