Thoracic actinomycosis: CT features with histopathologic correlation.
OBJECTIVE
Thoracic actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative pulmonary or endobronchial infection caused by Actinomyces israelii, a gram-positive anaerobic organism. We present the CT features of thoracic actinomycosis with histopathologic correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
The typical CT feature of parenchymal actinomycosis is a chronic segmental air-space consolidation containing necrotic low-attenuation areas with frequent cavity formation. A broncholith can be secondarily infected with Actinomyces organisms, resulting in endobronchial actinomycosis. It usually manifests as a proximal endobronchial calcification associated with distal obstructive pneumonia.
Kim
Tae Sung
TS
Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, South Korea.
Han
Joungho
J
Koh
Won-Jung
WJ
Choi
Jae Chol
JC
Chung
Myung Jin
MJ
Lee
Ju Hyun
JH
Shim
Sung Shine
SS
Chong
Semin
S
D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed