Actinomyces turicensis infection mimicking ovarian tumour

Ong C, Barnes S, Senanayake S
Correspondence: Dr Sara Barnes, barnes.sara@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
This case report explores an unusual presentation of a commensal organism, Actinomyces, which mimicked a presentation of ovarian cancer. A 73-year-old woman presented to a tertiary level hospital with persistent left iliac fossa  abdominal pain, anorexia and fever lasting over one week, with a three-month history of bright rectal bleeding. Imaging was suggestive of malignancy. Fine needle aspiration of an enlarged lymph node was non-diagnostic. Blood cultures taken at presentation became positive after two days for Gram-positive rods, which were most likely Actinomyces. The patient was treated with penicillin 1.8 g four hourly with rapid improvement. Actinomycosis is frequently misdiagnosed as malignancy initially due to its relatively indolent course. Lesions often resolve with antibiotics, without the need for surgical intervention.

Keywords: Actinomyces, Actinomyces turicensis, infection, mimicking, ovarian tumour
Singapore Med J 2012; 53(1): e9–e11