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. 2014 November/December;21(6):e75-e77.
doi: 10.1155/2014/841480.

Actinomyces graevenitzii pulmonary abscess mimicking tuberculosis in a healthy young man

Actinomyces graevenitzii pulmonary abscess mimicking tuberculosis in a healthy young man

Smaranda Gliga et al. Can Respir J. 2014 November/December.

Abstract

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare disease that is often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or lung cancer. Actinomyces graevenitzii is a relatively new recognized Actinomyces species isolated from various clinical samples. The authors report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis caused by A graevenitzii. A computed tomography examination revealed an excavated consolidation in the middle right lobe of a previously healthy young man who presented with a long history of moderate cough. Cultures of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary abscess caused by A gravenitzii. At the three-month follow-up consultation and, after six weeks of high-dose amoxicillin, the pulmonary lesion had completely disappeared.

L’actinomycose pulmonaire est une maladie rare souvent diagnostiquée à tort comme une tuberculose ou un cancer du poumon. L’Actinomyces graevenitzii est une espèce d’Actinomyces dépistée assez récemment dans divers échantillons cliniques. Les auteurs présentent un cas d’actinomycose pulmonaire causé par l’A graevenitzii. Une tomodensitométrie a révélé la condensation excavé du lobe moyen droit chez un jeune homme auparavant en santé qui avait une toux modérée depuis très longtemps. Les cultures du liquide de lavage bronchoalvéolaire ont confirmé le diagnostic d’abcès pulmonaire causé par l’A gravenitzii. Au moment de la consultation de suivi au bout de trois mois et après six semaines d’amoxicilline à forte dose, la lésion pulmonaire avait complètement disparu.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Chest computed tomography scans. A A nodule with cavitation was observed in the right middle lobe on admission. B The cavity had completely regressed, with persistence of a small consolidation three weeks after initiation of treatment

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