A Case of Pulmonary Actinomycosis / 감염

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative disease usually caused by Actinomyces israelii, characterized by suppuration, sinus tract formation, and purulent discharge containing yellowish "sulfur granules". It is usually caused by aspiration of contaminated material from mouth or oropharynx. The diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis is difficult and its initial clinical manifestations mimic tuberculosis or neoplasm. We experienced a case of thoracic actinomycosis in a 47-year old male patient who had complained of cough, chest pain and fever for 2 months. The diagnosis was confirmed pathologically by ultrasonography guided gun-biopsy of pleural mass and thoracoscopic wedge biopsy of parenchymal lung lesion.