A case of endobronchial actinomycosis as a challenging cause of lung atelectasis
Open Access
- 8 May 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in BMC Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 21 (1), 1-4
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06126-3
Abstract
Primary endobronchial actinomycosis is exceptionally uncommon and can be misdiagnosed as unresolving pneumonia, endobronchial lipoma, bronchogenic carcinoma or foreign body. Predisposing factors are immunosuppressive conditions, chronic lung diseases, poor oral hygiene or foreign body aspiration. We reported a case of 88-year old woman with a 4 days history of mild exertional dyspnea, productive cough with purulent sputum and fever up to 37.8 °C, who developed left sided endobronchial actinomycosis in absence of any pre-existent risk conditions; endobronchial de-obstruction and specific antibiotic treatment were performed with success, achieving a full resolution of the disease, with bronchoscopy playing a key role in the diagnosticand therapeutic pathways. This case raises the necessity for increased awareness in the management of endobronchial lesions and in cases of suspected endobronchial actinomycosis; bronchoscopy plays a key role in the diagnostic and therapeutic process; prompt recognition of this entity can expedite proper treatment and recovery.This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- A 35-year old woman with productive cough and breathlessnessLung India, 2015
- Actinomycosis: etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and managementInfection and Drug Resistance, 2014
- Pulmonary actinomycosis during the first decade of 21st century: cases of 94 patientsBMC Infectious Diseases, 2013
- ActinomycosisBMJ, 2011
- Bronchopulmonary Actinomycosis Associated With Hiatal HerniaMayo Clinic Proceedings, 2009
- Thoracic Actinomycosis: CT Features with Histopathologic CorrelationAmerican Journal of Roentgenology, 2006
- Short‐Term Treatment of Actinomycosis: Two Cases and a ReviewClinical Infectious Diseases, 2004
- Pulmonary actinomycosisEuropean Respiratory Journal, 2003
- A Case of Endobronchial ActinomycosisThe Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, 2000
- Actinomycosis: Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations and a review of 32 casesThe Laryngoscope, 1984