[A case of bronchial actinomycosis associated with bronchoscopically removed broncholith]

A 57-year-old woman with bronchial actinomycosis associated with broncholith is presented. She had suffered from fever and productive cough for 7 years. Her chest roentgenograms showed atelectasis of the middle lobe and calcification in the middle lobe bronchus. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a broncholith covered with pus and granulomatous tissue. The biopsy specimen revealed sulfur granules containing a partially calcified lesion, and it was diagnosed as actinomycosis. After treatment with antibiotics, the broncholith became movable, and it was removed bronchoscopically. Its shape was like a molding of the right middle lobe bronchus. We speculate that the growth of this broncholith partially resulted from chronic inflammation associated with actinomycelial infection.