Actinomycotic Inflammatory Disease and Misdiagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. A Case Report

Abstract

Actinomycosis in the pelvic region is an uncommon diagnosis. This infection is caused by Actinomyces israelii, a gram-positive anerobic saprophyte bacterium that is a normal inhabitant of the upper intestinal tract in humans. Pelvic actinomycosis is difficult to diagnose pre-operatively and is diagnosed, in most cases, accidentally. Actinomycosis can mimic pelvic and abdominal malignancies. A case report of a 35-year-old female patient with a fixed pelvic mass is presented and the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic actinomycotic inflammatory disease in relation to ovarian cancer are discussed. Clinicians should be aware of this rare infection to spare women potential morbidity from excessive surgical procedures.