A Case of Bronchial Actinomycosis with Spontaneous Regression Diagnosed by Bronchoscopy

Abstract

Background. Thoracic actinomycosis is a relatively rare disease that is often difficult to diagnose and requires prolonged antibiotic therapy. We report a case of bronchial actinomycosis diagnosed by bronchoscopy that showed spontaneous remission. Case. A 77-year-old Japanese man presented at our hospital with fever and cough and was given a diagnosis of pneumonia. Chest CT scans revealed a mass in the right S⁷ while he was receiving antibiotic therapy for pneumonia. We suspected lung cancer and performed bronchoscopy. Sputum was present at the right B⁷ orifice, and we found polyps with edematous mucosa after removing it. We diagnosed the patient with actinomycosis through this pathological examination. After diagnosis, his clinical symptoms and CT findings improved without antibiotic therapy, and no exacerbation has been observed for over a year. Conclusion. We experienced a case of bronchial actinomycosis with spontaneous remission. Removal of mucous plugs with bronchoscopy may have contributed to the remission.