A Rare Case of Pulmonary Actinomycosis Presented With Hollow Mass Lesion and Elevated CEA Level

Chiang MC

Published on: 2022-06-09

Abstract

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease led by Actinomycosis israelii, with non-specific clinical and image presentation which is easily misdiagnosed with pneumonia or malignancy. It is more common in patients with poor oral hygiene and underlying respiratory disease. Serum CEA level is taken as a predictive factor of prognosis in lung cancer. However elevated serum CEA level is not always associated with malignancy. Aging, type 2 diabetes mellitus, infection, inflammation, and cigarette consumption can lead to increasement of serum CEA level. Here we report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis complicated with lung mass and elevated serum CRP level. Chest image series showing the remission of the lung mass after antibiotic treatment are contained in this report. Gradually decreased serum CEA level throughout the clinical course is also record and related studies about this phenomenon will be discussed either.