[Thoracic actinomycosis with lung, mediastinal and pericardial involvement. A case report]

A case of actinomycosis is reported in a 17-years-old woman with pleural and pericardial effusions and anterior mediastinal mass. Histopathological diagnosis of actinomycosis was performed by mediastinal mass biopsy. There was no evidence of immunodeficit or neoplasia. Probably a dental manipulation favoured the Actinomyces infection. Treatment with antibiotics resulted in a reduction of mediastinal mass and in a complete resolution of pleural and pericardial effusions.