A Case Report of Pulmonary Actinomycosis: A Diagnostic Quagmire

Authors

Sarah Akbani, Piedmont Macon Medical CenterFollow
Aderinsola O. Ademiluyi, Mercer UniversityFollow
Jonathan Dean, HCA coliseum medical centersFollow
Vinita Mathur, Piedmont Macon Medical CenterFollow

Author Credentials

Sarah Akbani, MD

Aderinsola O. Ademiluyi, MD

Jonathan Dean, MD

Vinita Mathur, MD

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/

0000-0002-8574-2251

Abstract

The implications of misdiagnosis can be drastic, especially when the correct diagnosis is treatable. Pulmonary actinomycosis is one of the complications of infection with actinomyces, an anaerobic gram-positive organism that is usually found as a part of the normal flora in the human body infection. It is a very rare disease and is frequently mistaken with other diagnoses owing to its nonspecific presentation. In this report, we present a 67-year-old male with a mass like lesion on a CT scan of his chest that was done due to progressively worsening productive cough, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms could have swayed any physician into the diagnosis of possible malignancy. A misdiagnosis that could have led to further unnecessary invasive interventions, as well as cause the patient significant distress regarding management and prognosis. However, high degree of suspicion and confirmation by cultures and histopathological exam done through bronchoscopy and bronchial alveolar lavage eventually revealed and confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis caused by actinomyces oris. Treatment of which was done successfully and resulted in significant improvement in the patient’s clinical condition and CT results.

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Recommended Citation

Akbani S, Ademiluyi AO, Dean J, Mathur V. A Case Report of Pulmonary Actinomycosis: A Diagnostic Quagmire. Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery. 2022; 2(2). doi: 10.53785/2769-2779.1094.

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