Abdominal actinomycosis mimicking a transverse colon malignancy: a case report and review of the literature

Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Because of Actinomyces

Actinomycosis is a rare chronic granulomatous disease that manifests with nonspecific symptoms of abdominal pain, anorexia, and weight loss. The disparity in the presentation of this condition presents a tremendous diagnostic challenge. There are few reports of Actinomyces species causing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis without previous localized masses or abscesses have been published. We provide a case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis secondary to Actinomyces species in a 46-year-old woman with uterine fibroids and a lack of preceding abscess. Although rare, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis because of Actinomyces should be considered in differential in female patients without pre-existing liver disease presenting with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Intra-Abdominal Actinomycosis: An Indolent Masquerader of Malignancy

This report describes the case of a 54-year-old female who presented with the constitutional symptoms of lethargy, weight loss, and asthenia. She had been extensively investigated for possible gynaecological malignancy but with no definitive outcome achieved. The symptoms were persistent and, partly due to occurring during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a decision was made to progress with surgical management. Following an oncology multidisciplinary meeting, a decision was made for a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Intra-operatively, there was an incidental finding of an extensive tumour infiltrating the liver, colon, anterior abdominal wall and urinary bladder. A surgical resection with ileostomy was performed on suspicion of an underlying malignancy. Unexpectedly, the histopathological diagnosis revealed actinomycosis. Following this discovery, our entire management plan was altered, and the patient was treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics and recovered well.

Pelvi-abdominal as a complication of long-term use of intrauterine device (IUD). The important role of imaging in diagnosis and follow-up

ACTINOMYCOSIS is a rare chronic granulomatous disease caused by anaerobic filamentous gram-positive bacteria, the most common of which is Actinomyces israelii. Actinomycetes are commensal inhabitants of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, but they may become pathogenic through invasion of breached or necrotic tissue. Pelviabdominal ACTINOMYCOSIS is uncommon and can mimic a variety of disease processes, including abdominal mass mimicking malignancy, acute abdomen, asthenia, and weight loss. We describe a 38-year-old woman who presented with acute abdominal pain and tenderness, as well as constitutional manifestations and elevated inflammatory markers. On initial computerized tomography (CT) and MRI, a large fluid collection underlining the anterior abdominal wall at the false pelvic cavity, as well as parietal peritoneal enhancement and smudging of the mesenteric fat and a bulky fibroid uterus with an implanted IUD, were identified. The ultrasound guided aspiration and anaerobic culture revealed positive growth for Actinomyces bacteria. An exploratory laparoscopy revealed extensive adhesions between the abdominal wall and the small intestine, as well as hyperemic and thickened peritoneum, and peritoneal biopsy confirmed ACTINOMYCOSIS. After the diagnosis was established, the IUD was removed and the patient was given Ceftriaxone 2 gm once daily for 6 weeks before switching to oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for another 3 months. A significant regression of the suprapubic fluid collection, and peritoneal-mesenteric changes were confirmed on follow-up. The case is discussed, and the relevant literature reviewed and analyzed.

Abdominopelvic Actinomycosis—The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge of the Most Misdiagnosed Disease

Abdominopelvic actinomycosis is a rare chronic or subacute bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces israelii, a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that normally colonizes the digestive and genital tracts, clinically presented as an inflammatory mass or abscess formation. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of the patients from our clinic with abdominopelvic actinomycosis who underwent surgery between 2002 and 2022. In this period, 28 cases (9 men and 19 women) were treated. The mean age was 43.36 years and they were hospitalized for abdominopelvic tumors or inflammatory tumors in 15 cases and inflammatory disease in 13 cases. Results: Causes of actinomycosis in the studied group were an intra-uterine contraceptive device in 17 cases, foreign bodies in 2 cases, diabetes in 4 cases, stenting of the bile duct in 1 case, and immunodepression. For 6 patients, we performed surgery by open approach and for 21 patients by a laparoscopic approach. For nine patients, abdominopelvic actinomycosis had been mimicking a colon malignancy (cecum and ascending colon, four cases; transverse colon, two cases; and on the greater omentum, three cases) and for six patients, a pelvic tumor (advanced ovarian cancer). After surgery the patients underwent specific treatment with antibiotics, with good results. In two cases we discovered and treated hepatic actinomycosis, one case by a laparoscopic approach and one case by a percutaneous approach. In our lot we noticed three recurrences that required reintervention in patients who had had short-term antibiotics due to non-compliance with treatment out of four such cases. Conclusions: For abdominopelvic malignancies, actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, as well as for inflammatory bowel diseases and bowel obstructions. We have a wide range of patients considering the rarity of this condition. Long-term antibiotics are necessary to prevent recurrence.