Disseminated Actinomyces meyeri infection resembling lung cancer with brain metastases.
Thoracic actinomycosis can resemble bronchogenic carcinoma in its clinical presentation and radiographic appearance. We report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces meyeri in which hematogenous dissemination caused multiple brain abscesses resembling metastatic lung cancer. The correct diagnosis was made by thin-needle aspiration of a pleura-based lung mass. The pathogen isolated was further identified with the use of 16S rDNA sequencing. Antibiotic therapy resulted in rapid improvement of the lung lesion; however, the brain lesions required surgical drainage. Antibiotics were continued for more than a year before magnetic resonance images showed complete resolution of the cerebral abscesses.
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal