Tropheryma Whipple dystrophy and Nocardia infection associated with lung tumor: a case report and literature review

Tropheryma whipplei (TW) and Nocardia are rare pathogenic bacteria found in the clinic. Under the action of some immune mechanisms, TW-induced Whipple dystrophy may develop to the Whipple disease. Increasing studies have demonstrated their etiological characteristics and the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of the diseases they cause. We present a case of a patient with a lung tumor associated with TW and Nocardia co-infections. The final diagnosis was confirmed by tissue biopsy, PCR, and gene sequencing. Clinical features of this case are discussed, including TW diagnosis process, morphological characteristics of infection, and its relationship with tumor, as well as a review of previous studies on the Whipple disease.