Thoracic actinomycetoma: a retrospective clinical-epidemiological study of 64 cases

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 115; no. 4; pp. 337 - 339
• Main Authors: Bonifaz, Alexandro, Tirado-Sánchez, Andrés, Araiza, Javier, Fierro-Arias, Leonel, Martínez-Gamboa, Areli, Ponce-de-León, Alfredo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 14-04-2021
• Subjects: vertebral invasión; Nocardia spp; Thoracic; Mycetoma; Actinomadurae madurae; Actinomycetoma
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab037

Actinomycetoma is a chronic granulomatous infection that follows traumatic implantation. Thoracic actinomycetoma (TA) is rare and may lead to severe complications.
A retrospective study of cases of TA diagnosed from 1985 to 2019 was carried out. Each case underwent direct examination, culture and biopsy.
Sixty-four cases (12.8%) were included, with a male predominance (84.3%); the main occupation was peasant farmer (71.8%) and the main site was the back (76.5%). Vertebral involvement was observed in 21.8% and pulmonary involvement in 7.8%. Nocardia brasiliensis was the main aetiological agent (53 cases, 74.5%).
TA is a poorly studied disease that can cause neurological and lung complications.