title: Actinomycosis: an unusual cause of unresectable rectal cancer.
abstract: We present a very unusual case of a woman with an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) who developed pelvic actinomycosis during long course chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer, which presented a significant diagnostic challenge and eventually rendered the cancer unresectable. IUCDs are often implicated in the development of pelvic actinomycosis but there is no current evidence or guideline to suggest that they should be removed prior to oncological treatment. Owing to the devastating consequences of this combination of disease, we suggest that it may be prudent to remove IUCDs in this setting.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 9LT, UK. tamsyngrey@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhowmick
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D020878:Device Removal; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059413:Intraabdominal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D034161:Pelvic Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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