[A case of broncholiths derived from calcification of peripheral tuberculous lesions subsequently infected by Actinomyces].

A 72-year-old woman who had been treated for coxotuberculosis was examined because of persistent hemoptysis. Chest X-ray films and CT scans revealed atelectasis of the right middle lobe and bronchial calcification. Bronchoscopy showed a yellow broncholith with pus 1 cm from the orifice of the right B4 bronchus. Actinomyces israelii was isolated by anaerobic culture of bronchial lavage fluid. Since the broncholith occluded the right middle lobe bronchus and had caused repeated episodes of infection the right middle lobe was resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histological examination revealed broncholiths due to calcification of peripheral caseating nodules of tuberculosis, which is a rarely finding.