What does this research mean for the field?

Chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, such as Mycobacterium abscessus, can potentially drive adjacent vascular wall degradation and lead to the formation of pulmonary artery aneurysms. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.ESTABLISHES_NEW_DIRECTION.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This report aims to explore the rare association between nontuberculous mycobacterial infections and pulmonary artery aneurysms.

May 31, 2026Open Access

Suspicious Segmental Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection: A Report of a Rare Case

Key Points

This report aims to explore the rare association between nontuberculous mycobacterial infections and pulmonary artery aneurysms.
Case presentation of a 69-year-old man with hemoptysis and history of untreated NTM infection.
Diagnostic imaging and subsequent bronchoscopy with culture analysis to identify the causative agent.
Multidisciplinary consultations for management decisions and assessment of surgical candidacy.
Identification of an incidental pulmonary artery aneurysm during the evaluation of an active Mycobacterium abscessus complex infection.
Patient managed conservatively with intravenous antibiotics and respiratory support, without surgical intervention.
Highlighting the need for further research into NTM’s role in vascular wall degradation and aneurysm formation.

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are well-established pulmonary pathogens across all demographics; conversely, pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) represent rare and potentially life-threatening vascular complications. The pathophysiological association between chronic NTM infection and the development of PAAs remains largely underexplored. A 69-year-old man with a history of untreated NTM infection presented to our facility with a chief complaint of hemoptysis. Initial diagnostic imaging suggested the presence of a PAA in a branch of the pulmonary artery. Consequently, a multidisciplinary consultation ensued to determine the true structural classification of the lesion, weighing a PAA against an acquired, infection-mediated pseudoaneurysm. Subsequent bronchoscopy and culture analysis of the bronchial lavage fluid grew Mycobacterium abscessus complex. The patient was managed with intravenous antibiotics and supportive respiratory therapies. Following multidisciplinary consultations, the cardiology service concluded that the PAA was an incidental finding likely secondary to an infectious etiology. The patient was deemed a nonsurgical candidate and was discharged with plans for close outpatient follow-up with cardiology, pulmonology, and infectious disease specialties. This case details a rare clinical intersection: an incidental PAA discovered during the workup of an active, untreated M. abscessus complex infection. While the patient was managed conservatively without surgical intervention, the concurrence of these pathologies underscores a critical diagnostic consideration. Due to the scarcity of documented literature on NTM-associated vascular complications, this presentation highlights the importance of recognizing chronic atypical mycobacterial infections as potential drivers of adjacent vascular wall degradation. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which NTM-mediated inflammation induces vascular wall injury, potentially predisposing patients to aneurysm formation.

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