A Case of Abdominal Actinomycosis Confirmed by Colonoscopic Biopsy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

Actinomycosis is a chronic pyogenic granulomatous disease, defined as infection caused by gram-positive anaerobic Actinomyces, mainly Actinomyces Israelii. It colonize in human oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, or genital tract of female, and characterized by lesion that secretes sulfur granules. Generally, abdominal actinomycosis shows chronic disease progression without any typical clinical symptoms, sometimes forming an inflammatory mass within the abdominal cavity. Due to this fact, it is frequently mistaken as malignant neoplasm, diagnosed only after operation. We report this case after diagnosing abdominal actinomycosis without an open abdominal surgery ; colonoscopy and biopsy was carried out in a patient with mucosal changes and luminal narrowing of transverse colon on colon study, ultimately diagnosing abdominal actinomycosis without an open abdominal surgery.