[Actinomycosis of the colon as a rare differential diagnosis of colonic carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
Abdominal actinomycosis is an uncommon disease. Nevertheless it should be considered in case of unclear tumor-like abdominal masses.


METHODS
We report a case of a 49-year-old patient with an intrauterine device. The patient was submitted with a solid and painful tumor in the upper abdomen. After sonography, computerized tomography, gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy the preoperative presumptive diagnosis was a carcinoma of the transvers colon invading the abdominal wall. Pathological examination after a right hemicolectomy surprisingly revealed an actinomycosis.


RESULTS
Based on this case diagnostic tools and therapeutic options of actinomycosis of the colon are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the importance to consider the possibility of actinomycosis when finding an unclear abdominal mass. After a surgical excision an abdominal actinomycosis requires antibiotic therapy.
Rose
G
G
Klinik für Allgemein- und Thoraxchirurgie (Leiter: Prof. Dr. K. Schwemmle) der Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen.
Franke
F E
FE
Weimar
B
B
Buhr
J
J
Padberg
W
W
D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003082:Colectomy; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents