Actinomyces meyeri causing disseminated actinomycosis in the presence of concurrent bronchogenic carcinoma

BMJ Case Rep. 2022 Feb 8;15(2):e247577. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-247577.

Abstract

We describe the presentation of a 72-year-old woman with concurrent diagnoses of lung adenocarcinoma in conjunction with disseminated Actinomyces meyeri infection; a rare pathogen which can mimic lung cancer both symptomatically and radiologically. The patient was found to have a pelvic mass initially presumed to be cervical metastases-later confirmed to be of xanthogranulomatous inflammatory origin following transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy. The pathogenic cause, identified following pleural aspirate, being a fully sensitive A. meyeri infection; treated with prolonged course amoxicillin.

Keywords: gynecological cancer; lung cancer (oncology); pneumonia (infectious disease).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actinomyces
  • Actinomycetaceae
  • Actinomycosis* / complications
  • Actinomycosis* / diagnosis
  • Actinomycosis* / drug therapy
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Bronchogenic*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis

Supplementary concepts

  • Schaalia meyeri