Presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis and actinomyces co-infection as a lung mass: a literature review and unique case report

Abstract

Parenchymal lung infections occasionally present with clinical symptoms and radiological findings similar to lung malignancy. Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare condition of its own right, let alone in coexistence with tuberculosis. We report a case of a man presenting with hemoptysis alongside a chest computed tomography compatible with lung cancer. The diagnosis, after removal of a large endobronchial mass with flexible bronchoscopy and cryon, was a concomitant infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Actinomyces odontoliticus. In the literature, there are few reported cases with concomitant tuberculosis and actinomycosis. To our knowledge, such radical treatment without surgical intervention has not been reported in the past.