Department of Medicine Publications
Colobronchial Fistula Presenting with Persistent Pneumonia in a Patient with Crohn's Disease: A Case Report
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-30-2009
Journal
Cases Journal
Volume
2
Issue
9114
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-2-9114
Abstract
Colobronchial fistula is an uncommon complication of Crohn's Disease. It is also rarely diagnosed on first presentation. We describe a case of colobronchial fistula and recurrent pneumonia in a patient with Crohn's Disease.
A 52-year-old gentleman with a history of Crohn's Disease presented with cavitating left lower lobe pneumonia that did not resolve despite a one month course of antibiotics. A computed tomography of the thorax confirmed the presence of a cavitating left lower lobe pneumonia. A subsequent abdominal computed tomography revealed a fistulous communication between the colon at the splenic flexure and the left bronchial space. The patient underwent surgery and a fibrous tract was visualized from the splenic flexure to the left lung. Medical treatment was continued with a six week course of antibiotics and the patient was doing well 12 weeks after surgery.
There have been few case reports of colobronchial fistula with a clinical picture similar to this case.
