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Query: UMLS:C0010200 (cough)
 23,843 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have reviewed the case notes of 19 patients with thoracic actinomycosis. The median age at presentation was 42 (range 9-66) years, 15 were male and 12 were urban residents. Cough, sputum production, chest pain and weight loss were the commonest symptoms. Six patients reported haemoptysis. In contrast with the classical appearances of thoracic actinomycosis, only four patients had cutaneous abnormalities, and only one patient had radiological evidence of bone involvement. The provisional diagnosis was bronchial carcinoma in nine patients, and in seven patients the diagnosis of actinomycosis was only made after resection of the lesion, in two cases by pneumonectomy. The median delay between presentation and diagnosis was 3.5 (range 1-24) weeks. Two patients developed extrathoracic complications, but all patients made a full recovery after receiving antibiotic therapy for a median of 6 (range 1-24) weeks. Thoracic actinomycosis is rare, but should still be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pulmonary lesion thought to be malignant.
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PMID:A survey of thoracic actinomycosis. 237 23

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a chronic pulmonary infection caused by Actinomyces, a Gram-positive, microaerophilic bacterium. Pulmonary involvement, other than cervicofacially or abdominopelvically, is uncommon and often leads to a misdiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis or lung cancer. In order to investigate the clinical, radiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of pulmonary actinomycosis, we reviewed a total of 25 cases reported in Korea. Thirteen were diagnosed at our hospital between 1985 and 1997 and 12 were reported in Korean publications. The condition occurred most frequently in middle-aged males, the most common symptom being haemoptysis, followed by cough and sputum. The main radiological features were peripherally located mass or nodule and consolidation, with central low attenuation. Complications such as empyema, sinus fistula or mediastinitis did not occur. Diagnosis was confirmed by percutaneous needle aspiration (n = 8), bronchoscopic biopsy (n = 3) or thoracotomy (n = 13). Eleven of 25 cases were treated medically and in nine others, surgical resection was followed by treatment with antibiotics. In conclusion, when a middle-aged male patient presents with haemoptysis and cough, together with radiologic findings of a peripheral mass or nodule with/without central low attenuation, pulmonary actinomycosis should be suspected.
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PMID:Pulmonary actinomycosis in Korea. 1033 28

A 59-year-old male clerk consulted in general practitioner due to cough and hemoptysis. A mass shadow was pointed out in the left upper lung field on a chest radiograph. Patient was referred to our hospital for further treatment. Any definitive daiagnosis could not be made after examinations including sputum culture, cytology and TBLB. Because a lung cancer was strongly suspected, an exploratory thoracotomy was performed. Actinomyces was detected by pathological study of excised specimen, with no evidence of cancer. ABPC was administered for two months postoperatively. The patient is doing well without recurrence of actinomycosis 2.5 years after the surgery. Pulmonary actinomycosis presenting a mass shadow on a radiograph may mimick a pulmonary tumor, especially a lung cancer. Pulmonary actinomycosis should be considered in a differential diagnosis of pulmonary lesion thought to be malignant.
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PMID:[A case of pulmonary actinomycosis radiologically mimicking a lung cancer]. 1084 69

A 58-year-old man admitted for evaluation of weight loss and dry cough. Initially, he was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. Despite receiving antibiotics, his clinical status deteriorated and was intubated. Fiber optic bronchoscopy revealed a significant amount of mucopurulent secretions. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed marked amount of sulfur granules identified on stain. Microbiology culture was compatible with Actinomyces israelii. Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare but important and challenging diagnosis to make. It presents with wide spectrum of clinical and radiologic characteristics. Failure to recognize the disease early may result in drastic complications.
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PMID:Nonresolving pneumonia. 2045 15

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare bacterial lung disease caused by one of two types of bacteria, Actinomyces or Propioni. Pulmonary actinomycosis in the lung causes lung cavities, lung nodules, and pleural effusion. We report here a case of pulmonary actinomycosis that was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). A 45 year-old male with a history of smoking and alcohol abuse, presented with complaints of cough with hemoptysis, right-sided chest pain, and fever of two months' duration. A chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) of the thorax showed a right upper lobe mass lesion with hilar lymphadenopathy. CT-guided FNAC revealed colonies of Actinomyces surrounded by polymorphs. The disease is commonly confused with other chronic suppurative lung diseases and malignancy. An early diagnosis by FNAC prevents difficulties in the management of the disease, as well as considerable physiological and physical morbidity, including unwarranted surgery.
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PMID:Pulmonary actinomycosis in fine needle aspiration cytology. 2193 64

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative infection with filamentous, gram-positive, nonspore forming anaerobic bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. Actinomyces species are commensals of the human oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and female genitalia. Involvement of the thorax accounts for 15% to 20% of actinomycosis cases. Thoracic actinomycosis classically presents as an intrapulmonary infection of the alveoli, peribronchial tissue, and/or bronchioles. Endobronchial actinomycosis is a rare condition that has been reported in association with aspiration of a foreign body or broncholithiasis. A critical component in the pathogenesis is disruption of the mucosal barrier, thereby allowing invasion of the microorganisms from aspirated oropharyngeal secretions. Even with a high clinical suspicion, actinomycosis is a diagnostic challenge. The most common symptoms of endobronchial actinomycosis include cough, sputum production, and fever. The disease is often confused with lung cancer, tuberculosis, fungal infections, nocardiosis, and poorly responding pneumonia. The present case highlights the first reported case of endobronchial actinomycosis associated with a covered nitinol endobronchial stent.
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PMID:Endobronchial actinomycosis after airway stenting. 2320 33

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare disease that is often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or lung cancer. Actinomyces graevenitzii is a relatively new recognized Actinomyces species isolated from various clinical samples. The authors report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis caused by A graevenitzii. A computed tomography examination revealed an excavated consolidation in the middle right lobe of a previously healthy young man who presented with a long history of moderate cough. Cultures of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary abscess caused by A gravenitzii. At the three-month follow-up consultation and, after six weeks of high-dose amoxicillin, the pulmonary lesion had completely disappeared.
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PMID:Actinomyces graevenitzii pulmonary abscess mimicking tuberculosis in a healthy young man. 2549 91

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a chronic, suppurative, granulomatous disease caused by Actinomyces israelii, an obligate anaerobe. The clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of pulmonary actinomycosis lack specificity and can lead to confusion with tuberculosis and lung cancer. The present study reported a case of pulmonary actinomycosis diagnosed by transbronchoscopic lung biopsy and reviewed the literature on the disease. The clinical characteristics, signs, laboratory findings as well as progression, diagnosis and treatment in the case of pulmonary actinomycosis were analyzed. The patient was diagnosed by transbronchoscopic lung biopsy. After two weeks of antibiotic therapy, the cough was significantly improved and the patient's temperature returned to normal. Moreover, the lesion in the left lower lung was significantly smaller. Pulmonary actinomycosis is usually confused for tuberculosis and lung cancer. The present findings indicated that transbronchoscopic lung biopsy is a useful tool for diagnosing the disease. To conclude, doctors should have a clear enough understanding of the disease to prescribe empirical antibiotics and avoid unnecessary surgery.
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PMID:Pulmonary actinomycosis diagnosed by transbronchoscopic lung biopsy: A case report and literature review. 3018 88