Pelvic Actinomycosis: Is It Possible to Diagnose Preoperatively?

Abstract

Purpose: Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare infection which presents difficulty in establishing a correct preoperative diagnosis. The aim of this study is to find diagnostic clues for pelvic actinomycosis preoperatively. Methods: A retrospective analysis performed at Chonbuk National University Hospital identified 9 patients with a diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis from 1998 to 2006. Results: All patients were women with a history of intrauterine device (IUD) use. Abdominal pain (7 cases), palpable mass (3 cases), defecation difficulty (3 cases) and leucorrhea (2 cases) were the main presenting complaints. The median duration of presenting symptoms was 78 days (range: 10∼365 days). The median duration of using an IUD unchanged was 11 years (range: 4∼30 years). A correct diagnosis was made in 3 patients (33%) without exploration. All patients were treated with antibiotics after pathologic diagnosis. There was no recurrence. Conclusions: It is very difficult to diagnose pelvic actinomycosis preoperatively. Howere, if a mass or a pelvic abscess is found in women with an IUD that has been unchanged for a long time, pelvic actinomycosis should be suspected to avoid unnecessary exploration.