[Clinical analysis of pulmonary actinomycosis]

A clinical analysis of four patients diagnosed as pulmonary actinomycosis in our respiratory division during the last seven years was performed. All of the patients were males with an average age of 61 years. Three patients had a past history. The clinical diagnosis on admission was lung cancer or pulmonary suppuration in three patients showing a mass-like shadow and pneumonia in one patient with an infiltration shadow. Suspected pulmonary infectious disease was detected from clinical symptoms in two patients, while suspected lung cancer was detected in the other two patients during health examinations. The lesions dominantly existed in the right upper lobe. Such findings as central low attenuation (LAA), bronchiectasis and pleural thickening were characteristic on chest computed tomography (CT). The diagnostic methods were all negative procedures; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in two patients, a specimen obtained by bronchoscopy in one and a specimen taken by percutaneous aspiration in one. Because penicillin antibiotics were administered for a long time for all patients after obtaining a definite diagnosis, the prognosis was good and there were no relapse.