Abdominal actinomycosis simulating malignancy of the right colon

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a chronic, suppurative, and granulomatous disease caused by an anaerobic or microaerophilic gram-positive bacterium, Actinomyces israelii, manifesting itself as fistula, sinus, inflammatory pseudotumor, or abscess formation. The cervicofacial region (50 to 65%) accounts for the majority of the cases followed by abdomen (20%) (1–5). Abdominal infection mostly involves the cecal area and can simulate malignant tumor on clinical and radiological examinations (1, 4, 6, 7). The diagnosis is almost always ascertained after surgery and histopathological examination of the specimen. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the possibility of encountering an abdominal mass related to actinomycosis in emergency cases and the benefit of limited surgical procedure.