[Primary pulmonary actinomycosis: the experience in a general hospital].

Although all Actinomyces species are capable of producing primary pulmonary pathology, actinomycosis is a rare entity which is infrequently diagnosed. The clinician's lack of knowledge of the disease is frequently blamed for this, and it is estimated that its incidence in our environment is greater than suspected. We present our experience consisting of four cases of primary pulmonary actinomycosis (PPA) diagnosed at La Paz Hospital from 1974 to 1988. Its particular characteristics are emphasized as well as the need to include it in the differential diagnosis of chronic pulmonary infiltrations, cavitated lesions or pulmonary masses.