Isolated renal nocardiosis in a patient with AIDS: Unusual presentation

Disseminated or systemic infection with nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection that is seen in immunocompromised individuals and can involve any organ. The primary infection in systemic nocardiosis usually occurs in the lungs and subsequently hematogenous dissemination occurs in other organs of the body. Nocardia infection of the kidney usually manifests as multiple pyelonephritic abscesses. We report a case of isolated renal nocardiosis, without involvement of the lungs or other organs in a patient with AIDS who presented with symptoms of renal failure. The nephrectomy specimen showed multiple calculi in the calyceal system and a tumorous mass with necrotic areas, which histologically showed features of nocardiosis. The case is being presented as this is an unusual manifestation of renal nocardiosis.