Open AccessPulmonary actinomycosis in fine needle aspiration cytology
Author(s) -
Kaustubh Patel,
Gurudutt Gupta,
Menka Shah,
Purvesh Patel
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of cytology/journal of cytology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.267
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 0974-5165
pISSN - 0970-9371
DOI - 10.4103/0970-9371.55233
Subject(s) - medicine , actinomycosis , chest radiograph , actinomyces , malignancy , lung , radiology , chest pain , pleural effusion , thorax (insect anatomy) , lesion , radiography , surgery , pathology , anatomy , genetics , biology , bacteria
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.