title: Utility of Wang needle aspiration in the diagnosis of actinomycosis.
abstract: An 85-year-old man had a 4-year history of recurrent pneumonia with a persistent pleural effusion. He underwent repeated bronchoscopy that revealed a right bronchus intermedius mass, but bronchial washes and biopsies remained nondiagnostic. A repeat bronchoscopy was performed, and a Wang needle aspiration of the mass was obtained that showed sulfur granules, diagnosing actinomycosis. The patient was started on appropriate antibiotic therapy. Actinomycosis must be considered in a patient with recurrent pneumonia and an endobronchial mass. Wang needle aspiration via bronchoscopy may be an important diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA. Bakhtawariram@UAMS.edu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bakhtawar
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salian
mesh_terms: D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology