Actinomycosis of the gallbladder

Actinomycosis of the gallbladder or major biliary ductal system is rare, and to our knowledge, there are fewer than 50 cases reported. We present a case with secondary perforation in a 48-year-old diabetic man who had no prior history of cholecystitis, or cholelithiasis. The diagnosis was made by demonstrating Actinomyces Israeli in the microbiology culture of gallbladder bile, and subsequently confirmed histologicaly in the cholecystectomy specimen. We reviewed the pathogenesis of abdominal and gallbladder actinomycosis, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of this rare disease