A Case of Huge Empyema Caused by Pulmonary Actinomycosis

Actinomycosis is an indolent infectious disease characterized by pyogenic response and necrosis, followed by intense fibrosis. The main forms of human actinomycosis are cervicofacial, pulmonary, and abdominopelvic type. Pulmonary actinomycosis accounts for 15% to 20% of total cases and unfortunately, clinical manifestations and radiologic findings are nonspecific. Small pleural effusion or empyema may develop in advanced disease but massive empyema is infrequent and rarely reported. We report a case of huge empyema caused by pulmonary actinomycosis in a 55 year-old man, presented with one-month history of productive cough and fever. The CT scan revealed a huge cavity with air-fluid level occupying the left hemithorax. Empyema caused by actinomycosis was confirmed microscopically by demonstration of sulfur granules in empyema sac through thracotomy. Decortication and surgical resection of empyema sac and destructed lung was accomplished and followed by intravenous infusion of penicillin G.(Tuberc Respir Dis 2004; 57:579-583)

keywords: Pulmonary actinomycosis, Empyema, Sulfur granule.거대 농흉으로 발견된 폐방선균증 1예원자력병원 내과, 병리과1, 진단방사선과2김덕룡, 최윤희, 이승환, 이종신, 김민재, 이승숙1, 최두환2, 김철현, 이재철A Case of Huge Empyema Caused by Pulmonary ActinomycosisDuck Ryung Kim, M.D., Yoon Hee Choi, M.D., Seung Whan Le, Pulmonary actinomycosis, Empyema, Sulfur granule.거대 농흉으로 발견된 폐방선균증 1예원자력병원 내과, 병리과1, 진단방사선과2김덕룡, 최윤희, 이승환, 이종신, 김민재, 이승숙1, 최두환2, 김철현, 이재철A Case of Huge Empyema Caused by Pulmonary ActinomycosisDuck Ryung Kim, M.D., Yoon Hee Choi, M.D., Seung Whan Le

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Article Contents

Vol.57 No.6

A Case of Huge Empyema Caused by Pulmonary Actinomycosis

Abstract

Reference

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases