[Thoracic actinomycosis].
BACKGROUND
Thoracic actinomycosis is an rare disease in our medium. This fact, together with the variability of its forms of presentation and the difficulty in isolating its etiologic agent, make its diagnosis, particularly difficult.


METHODS
A series of 8 cases diagnosed in the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 in two centers (Hospital de Bellvitge-Prínceps d'Espanya and Hospital de l'Esperança) is described with evaluation of the clinical and analytical data and the therapy applied.


RESULTS
Species were only identified in 3 cases with Actinomyces israelii in two and Actinomyces odontolyticus in the third. The proven association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the presence of distant septic metastasis and eosinophilic pleuritis as forms of presentation are of note. Medical treatment was penicillin or derivatives in all the cases except one which was treated with diagnostic/therapeutic segmentectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that when any subacute involvement of the thoracic and/or pleuropulmonary wall specific cultures should be carried out to discard eventual thoracic actinomycosis.
Ibáñez-Nolla
J
J
Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de Bellvitge-Prínceps d'Espanya, Barcelona.
Carratalá
J
J
Cucurull
J
J
Corbella
X
X
Oliveras
A
A
Curull
V
V
Liñares
J
J
Gudiol
F
F
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
D010406:Penicillins
Actinomicosis torácica.