Diagnostic Dilemma with a Case of Primary Bronchopulmonary Actinomycosis Causing Unilateral Destroyed Lung: A Case Report and Literature Review

Among chronic pulmonary infections, pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare one, caused by a gram-positive microaerophilic bacterium called Actinomyces. Aside from cervicofacial or abdominopelvic actinomycosis, pulmonary involvement is rare, and sometimes this type of infection results in a misdiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis or carcinoma. Clinical presentation of pulmonary actinomycosis could be acute or subacute, with lobar involvement. However, the disease is most commonly diagnosed at the chronic phase, with patients presenting mild fever, weight loss, and occasional hemoptysis. Here, we described the case of a 30-year-old male patient, presented with a history of respiratory complaints for more than three years and was diagnosed clinically and radiologically as a case of a destroyed left lung. Later on, post-operative tissue diagnosis was confirmed—pulmonary actinomycosis.