Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A rare case of primary actinomycosis of the anterior abdominal wall: diagnosis and treatment

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Hernia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present the case of a 60-year-old man who presented with a left hypochondrial swelling first noticed 4 weeks prior to admission to our clinic. Based on the findings of the ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging investigation, a tumour of uncertain origin of the abdominal wall was suspected, also involving the small bowel. The swelling, including the affected lateral and transverse oblique muscles as well as the subcutaneous tissue and the adjacent omentum majus, was completely excised. The resulting myoaponeurotic defect of the left lateral abdominal wall was closed with interrupted Vicryl sutures and stabilised with a PTFE prosthesis (20 × 10 cm) that was placed intraabdominally and secured by spiral tackers and interrupted transfascial monofilament Prolene sutures. Microscopic examination of the excised specimen revealed an actinomycosis of the anterior abdominal wall, which is extremely rare. The surgical treatment was followed by antibiotic therapy for 6 months. This treatment resulted in full recovery with no further complications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brown JR (1973) Human actinomycosis. A study of 181 subjects. Hum Pathol 4:319–330

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Weese WC, Smith IM (1975) A study of 57 cases of actinomycosis over a 36-year period. A diagnostic ‘failure’ with good prognosis after treatment. Arch Intern Med 135:1562–1568

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fisher MS (1980) “Miliary” actinomycosis. J Can Assoc Radiol 31:149–150

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lam S, Samraj J, Rahman S, Hilton E (1993) Primary actinomycotic endocarditis: case report and review. Clin Infect Dis 16:481–485

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Smego RA Jr (1987) Actinomycosis of the central nervous system. Rev Infect Dis 9:855–865

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lunca S, Bouras G, Romedea NS, Pertea M (2005) Abdominal wall actinomycosis associated with prolonged use of an intrauterine device: a case report and review of the literature. Int Surg 90:236–240

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Khalid K, Qazi SA, Al Saleh KA (2004) Primary actinomycosis of the abdominal wall. Saudi Med J 25:229–233

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hefny AF, Joshi S, Saadeldin YA et al (2006) Primary anterior abdominal wall actinomycosis. Singapore Med J 47:419–421

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Filipovic B, Milinic N, Nikolic G, Ranthelovic T (2005) Primary actinomycosis of the anterior abdominal wall: case report and review of the literature. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 20:517–520

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Yeguez JF, Martinez SA, Sands LR, Hellinger MD (2000) Pelvic actinomycosis presenting as malignant large bowel obstruction: a case report and a review of the literature. Am Surg 66:85–90

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ferrari TC, Couto CA, Murta-Oliveira C et al (2000) Actinomycosis of the colon: a rare form of presentation. Scand J Gastroenterol 35:108–109

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dayan K, Neufeld DM, Lang R et al (1993) Widespread gastrointestinal CMV infection as the presenting manifestation of AIDS. Harefuah 124:124–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cintron JR, Del Pino A, Duarte B, Wood D (1996) Abdominal actinomycosis. Dis Colon Rectum 39:105–108

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Burden P (1989) Actinomycosis. J Infect 19:95–99

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Piper MH, Schaberg DR, Ross JM et al (1992) Endoscopic detection and therapy of colonic actinomycosis. Am J Gastroenterol 87:1040–1042

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Noomene F, Zouari K, Kallel W et al (2003) Abdominal actinomycosis. Three cases. Presse Med 32:698–700

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hohenbleicher F, Hohenbleicher R, Hallfeldt KH (2002) Actinomycosis of the sigmoid as obstructive space-occupying lesion of the pelvis. A case report. Chirurg 73:733–735

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yang SH, Li AF, Lin JK (2000) Colonoscopy in abdominal actinomycosis. Gastrointest Endosc 51:236–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Ladurner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ladurner, R., Bogner, J.R., Drosse, I. et al. A rare case of primary actinomycosis of the anterior abdominal wall: diagnosis and treatment. Hernia 12, 549–552 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-008-0344-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-008-0344-6

Keywords

Navigation