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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jul 27, 2010; 2(7): 247-250
Published online Jul 27, 2010. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i7.247
Published online Jul 27, 2010. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i7.247
Abdominal wall actinomycosis simulating a malignant neoplasm: Case report and review of the literature
Paola Acquaro, Fulvio Tagliabue, Gianmaria Confalonieri, Melchiorre Costa, Department of Surgery, “A.Manzoni” Hospital, Via dell’Eremo 9/11, 23900 Lecco (LC), Italy
Paolo Faccioli, Department of Radiology, “A.Manzoni” Hospital, Via dell’Eremo 9/11, 23900 Lecco (LC), Italy
Author contributions: Acquaro P and Tagliabue F contributed equally to this work; Faccioli P contributed with the images; Acquaro P, Tagliabue F, Confalonieri G and Costa M wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Fulvio Tagliabue, MD, Department of Surgery, “A.Manzoni” Hospital, Via dell’Eremo 9/11, 23900 Lecco (LC), Italy. f.tagliabue@ospedale.lecco.it
Telephone: +39-341-489312 Fax: +39-341-489300
Received: January 21, 2010
Revised: February 22, 2010
Accepted: February 27, 2010
Published online: July 27, 2010
Revised: February 22, 2010
Accepted: February 27, 2010
Published online: July 27, 2010
Abstract
Abdominal wall actinomycosis is a rare disease frequently associated with the presence of an intra uterine device. We report on a case of a 47-year-old woman who had used an intrauterine device for many years and had removed it about a month prior to the identification of an abdominal wall abscess caused by Actinomyces israelii. The abscess mimicked a malignancy and the patient underwent a demolitive surgical treatment. The diagnosis was obtained only after histopathological examination. Postoperatively, the patient developed an infection of the wound which was treated with daily medication. The combination of long-term high dose antibiotic therapy with surgery led to successful treatment.
Keywords: Actinomycosis; Abdominal wall; Intra uterine device; Abscess; Neoplasm