Thoracic actinomycosis: report of a patient with advanced-stage disease

Abstract

The authors describe a case of advanced thoracic actinomycosis. A 44-year-old man with previous episodes of productive cough with purulent sputum, fever, chest pain and subcutaneous nodules on the left hemithorax was admitted with complaints of lumbar pain irradiating into left lower limb and presence of mass lesion on the left lumbar region. Imaging evaluations were obtained and the patient underwent left lower lobectomy. Histopathology, microscopic examination and anaerobic culture of the resected material diagnosed thoracic actinomycosis.

Actinomycosis of the Upper Lip

“…The male to female ratio of the disease is 3:1, and it usually presents in the fourth to fifth decade of life8. Infection commonly presents as a chronic or subacute painless or painful soft tissue swelling or mass involving the submandibular or paramandibular region3.…”

Primary cutaneous actinomycosis

“…Actinomycosis was first reported in humans by Israel in 1878 1,3 . Actinomyces are non virulent commensal organisms in the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract and female genitalia, which require a portal of entry to initiate infection 4 . The crucial factors for initiation of infection are disruption of the mucosal barrier and alteration of resident microbial flora 5,6 .…”

“…The male to female ratio of the disease is 3 : 1, and it usually presents in the fourth to fifth decade of life 1,4 . Classically, the clinical forms are: cervico‐facial (55%), abdomino‐pelvic (20%), thoracic (15%), and mixed organ (10%), which includes the skin, brain, pericardium and extremities 3,4 . Primary cutaneous actinomycosis is rare because of the endogenous habitat of the organism 2,7 .…”

Primary Cutaneous Actinomycosis of Lower Extremity: A Rare Case Report

“…3 A. israelli is the most frequent pathogen involving human infection. 4 Actinomycosis is a rare, suppurative, granulomatous disease that may involve several organs. It is more common in males (3:1) and in immunocompromised patients.…”