A Case of Pelvic and Abdominal Actinomycosis Associated with wearing an Intrauterine Device.

Choi, Pil Sun; Kim, So Joung; Jeon, Hyun Su; Hong, Hye Jin; Lee, Tae Ui; Kim, Sang Yun; Shin, Hyun Joon; Chung, Doo Yong

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2001;44(7):1357-1361.
Published online July 1, 2001.

A Case of Pelvic and Abdominal Actinomycosis Associated with wearing an Intrauterine Device.

Pil Sun Choi, So Joung Kim, Hyun Su Jeon, Hye Jin Hong, Tae Ui Lee, Sang Yun Kim, Hyun Joon Shin, Doo Yong Chung

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.
²General Surgery, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.
³Pathology, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.
⁴Radiology, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.

Abstract

Actinomycosis, rare in pelvic localization and a severe condition not well known to gynecologists, is an uncommon entity caused by anaerobic bacteria, Actinomycosis israelii. After trauma, surgery, or other infections that alter the host's mucosal barriers, these organisms advance to invade surrounding tissue and organs. The pelvic loculation of the disease generally presents as a pseudoneoplastic formation, so it is very difficult to make an accurate diagnosis initially. We experienced a pelvic and abdominal actinomycosis confirmed by pathology in a woman who had been wearing an IUD and complained fever, chill, headache for one month, and lower abdominal pain and palpable mass. This case illustrates the importance of considering the possibility of actinomycosis when we met a vague abdominal mass.

Key Words: Actinomycosis, IUD, Pelvic and abdominal mass