title: [Pulmonary actinomycosis diagnosed through transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB)].
abstract: Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rather rare chronic pulmonary infection. Its diagnosis may be difficult without biopsy, because its culture from sputum or bronchial secretion is rarely successful. We report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis diagnosed by means of TBLB. A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of hemosputum. The chest radiograph at the first visit revealed a nodular lesion in the right middle lobe. The biopsy examination showed sulfur granules of which PAS-positive mycelium was arranged in a radiating pattern. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed pulmonary actinomycosis. So far, there have been only 4 reported cases of pulmonary actinomycosis diagnosed by TBLB in Japan. TBLB is worth trying in the diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis, because it can avoid surgical procedures, if successful.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Munehiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Harumichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokudome
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanji
authors.forename: Ryu-ichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kamasawa
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tetsu
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyara
authors.forename: Kazuchika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001980:Bronchi; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged