Esophageal Actinomycosis Masquerading as Cancer in an Immunocompetent Patient

Abstract

A 79-year-old African American woman presented with acute hematemesis after progressive dysphagia for 6 weeks and 12-pound weight loss. She had no predisposing immunocompromising comorbidity such as the human immunodeficiency virus or active malignancy. Computed tomography showed air-fluid levels within the esophagus with partial obstruction. Upper endoscopy revealed a 1-cm mass lesion in the midthoracic esophagus, and biopsy results surprisingly showed esophageal actinomycosis. The patient's symptoms resolved on antimicrobial therapy at a one-month follow-up, and the lesion was not seen on repeat endoscopy with biopsy at 3 months. We believe that inhaled corticosteroids for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have created the growth milieu by impairing local defenses. Correct inhaler technique, avoiding swallowing the water after mouth rinsing, and a spacer device are recommended to reduce esophageal corticosteroid exposure.