Clinical analysis of four cases of pulmonary actinomycosis misdiagnosed as peripheral lung cancer / 中国综合临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of pulmonary actinomycosis and to improve the understanding of the clinical misdiagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis. Method Clinical data of 4 pulmonary actinomycosis patients were analized and related literatures were reviewed. Results All the 4 pulmonary actinomy-eosis cases were misdiaguosed as lung cancer. Pulmonary actinomycosis can be correctly diagnosed through lung bi-opsy by CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis,fiberoptic,bronchoscopy,or pathological examination of the resected pulmonary lobe. Conclusions Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare lung infection caused by fungus,and is liable to be misdiagnosed as peripheral lung cancer. The capacity of distinguishing pulmonary actinomycosis from peripheral lung cancer needs to be improved.