title: Bronchial dentures as a cause of airway actinomycosis.
abstract: A 65-year-old man was referred to the respiratory clinic with recurrent chest infections on a background of stage 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On examination, there was wheeze bilaterally more marked on the left lower lobe. Subsequent imaging revealed an obstruction of the left main bronchus that was concerning for malignancy. Initially, on flexible bronchoscopy, a hard mass was found and multiple biopsies were positive for actinomycosis. Subsequent rigid bronchoscopy was undertaken and a set of dentures were removed from the airway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ross K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Seamus J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Linnane
mesh_terms: D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed