title: Thoracic Vertebral Actinomycosis Secondary to a Pulmonary Origin.
abstract: Actinomycosis is a chronic infection caused by a gram-positive anaerobic bacteria from the species Actinomycesand causes a chronic colliquative inflammatory reaction known as actinomycotic granuloma, which is characterized macroscopically by suppuration, sinus tract formation, and purulent discharge containing yellowish sulfur granules. It can invade any part of the human body. This is a case report of a 40-year-old male patient known to the cardiothoracic team due to a sarcoma of the left lung. He presented with progressive thoracic myelopathy. Initially, the diagnosis was thought to be a spinal metastasis from the lung lesion. Further investigation revealed a thoracic actinomycosis with epidural granuloma tissue causing a spinal compression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: Nqobile S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Thango
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: Ameya S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kamat
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Husein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Welsh
keywords: actinomyces; spinal cord compression; thoracic actinomycosis