[Tumoral form of abdominal actinomycosis: a retrospective case series of seven patients].
OBJECTIVE
Abdominal actinomycosis is an uncommon chronic infectious disease due to Actinomyces, a Gram-positive bacteria. This saprophytic bacteria of digestive tract and genital mucosa can occasionally become pathogenic mimicking a digestive neoplasia. The aim of this study was to underline diagnostic features of abdominal actinomycosis and to summarize data about clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic approach of this type of infection.


METHODS
From January 1995 to December 2007, retrospective data concerning patients with abdominal actinomycosis who were followed-up in the University Hospital Sahloul (Sousse, Tunisia) were analysed.


RESULTS
Seven patients with abdominal actinomycosis were identified during the study period. All presented with an abdominal mass. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was obtained after surgical resection in all cases. The histological study permitted the diagnosis in six cases, and the surgical samples grew up Actinomyces in two patients. For the five patients who received prolonged and adapted antibiotic therapy, a favourable outcome was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Actinomycosis must be included in the differential diagnosis of invasive abdominal lesions with "malignant appearance".
Ketata
S
S
Service de microbiologie, CHU Sahloul, 4052 Sousse, Tunisie.
Ben Mabrouk
M
M
Derbel
F
F
Fodha
I
I
Sabri
Y
Y
Trabelsi
A
A
Mtimet
A
A
Ben Hadj Hamida
M
M
Mazhoud
J
J
Ben Ali
A
A
Ben Hadj Hamida
R
R
Boujaafar
N
N
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001062:Appendectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006104:Granuloma, Plasma Cell / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents