A case of endometrial actinomycosis of a virgin / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

Actinomyces species are anaerobic or microaerophilic non-spore-forming gram-positive rods that may reach, occasionally, the normal female genital tract. Actinomycosis is uncommon and often presents as a complication of an intrauterine device (IUD). IUD and pessaries facilitate the access of the microorganisms to the pelvis. Almost 85% of cases occur in women who have had an IUD in place for 3 or more years. In fact, the detection rate of Actinomyces in patients with pelvic actinomycosis is as low as 2%. The diseases caused by Actinomyces spp. is often of difficult diagonsis. The diagnosis of actinomycosis can be confirmed by culture. However, it is often difficult to culture Actinomyces. Therefore a diagnosis of actinomycosis can be made from the finding of sulfur granules within inflammatory exudate on histologic examination after surgery. However, it may be possible to diagnose actinomycosis before surgery by the finding of Actinomyces-like organisms on Papanicolaou smears. The endometrial involvement is extremely rare. The authors report an unusual case of endometrial infection by Actinomyces in a 21 year-old female without intercourse, admitted into the institute with menorrhagia. She had received oral pills. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a endometrial thickening. The pre-diagnosis was endometrial hyperplasia. The endometrial biopsy was done. The sample from the endometrium developed actinomycosis. After procedure and treatment, the menorrhagia was disappeared.