Pulmonary actinomycosis masquerading as lung cancer: a case report

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare yet important and challenging diagnosis to make. It is commonly confused with other lung diseases, such as tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma, leading to delay diagnosis or misdiagnosis. A 49-year-old man presented with a chronic cough, hemoptysis, and pleuriti...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Boo, Yang Liang, How, Kang Nien, Pereira, Decena Shamini, Chin, Pek Woon, Kan, Foong Kee, Lim, Suat Yee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Malaysia Medical Association 2017
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/59569/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/59569/1/Pulmonary%20actinomycosis%20masquerading%20as%20lung%20cancer%20a%20case%20report.pdf
Description
Summary:Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare yet important and challenging diagnosis to make. It is commonly confused with other lung diseases, such as tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma, leading to delay diagnosis or misdiagnosis. A 49-year-old man presented with a chronic cough, hemoptysis, and pleuritic chest pain. His initial imaging studies including computed tomography (CT) was suggestive of bronchogenic carcinoma. A subsequent CTguided biopsy was consistent with pulmonary actinomycosis and excluded the possibility of bronchogenic carcinoma. He was treated with antibiotic therapy and achieved remission with complete radiological resolution upon follow-up.