Primary endobronchial actinomycosis in association with foreign body aspiration

Abstract

A 66-year-old diabetic man presented with a bilobar pneumonia two months after aspiration of a chicken bone. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy demonstrated a mass in the bronchus intermedius. Histologic examination of endobronchial biopsy specimens revealed bone fragments, vegetable matter, and sulfur granules containing Actinomyces organisms. The patient responded to bronchoscopic removal of the foreign body and penicillin therapy. To our knowledge, the association of actinomycotic infection with an aspirated endobronchial foreign body has not previously been reported.