Work

Diagnosis of secondary tuberculosis infection in an asymptomatic elderly with cancer using next-generation sequencing: Case report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of tumors and tuberculosis (TB), particularly among elderly and immunocompromised populations. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for significantly improving patient outcomes. However, traditional diagnostic methods exhibit certain limitations. The rapid advancement of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has shown promising applications in the field of infectious diseases. We describe an 88-year-old male with multiple comorbidities, including newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer, who presented asymptomatically. Routine mNGS screening unexpectedly identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis , suggesting that malignancy may foster immune conditions favoring latent TB reactivation. This case emphasizes mNGS’s role as a rapid, sensitive diagnostic adjunct for occult infections in high-risk populations.

Source: Open Life Sciences

DOI: 10.1515/biol-2025-1123

Authors: Jiahuan Huang, Wenbo Ren, Weishang Hu, Jianfang Ni

Institutions: Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College

Language: English

Topic: Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,373