Pulmonary nocardiosis caused by Nocardia abscessus mimicking pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient with atypical anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis

Nocardia species are opportunistic bacteria that are frequently contagious by inhalation. Recently, Nocardia abscessus has been described as a different species. We report a 54-year-old male who presented with acute pleuritic chest pain, mimicking pulmonary thromboembolism on the 5th day of discharge from the hospital. The patient was receiving immunosuppressive therapy for newly diagnosed atypical anti-glomerular basement membrane disease. Thorax computed tomography revealed a 17x19 mm soft tissue lesion in the lateral segment of the middle lobe of the right lung. After further examinations, a biopsy decision was made and Nocardia abscessus was isolated in the aerobic culture of the aspiration material.