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Pelvic actinomycosis in menopause: a case report
L Cobellis1, E M Messalli, G Pierno
1Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second University of Naples, via Santa Lucia n.39, 80132 Naples, Italy. luigicobellis@yahoo.it
Objective:
To examine the association between the use of intra uterine device (IUD) and the risk of actinomycosis in postmenopausal women.
Methods:
We report a case of pelvic actinomycosis in a postmenopausal woman who was wearing an IUD for 14 years until 20 months after the beginning of menopause. In the last 5 years the patient had been suffering occasionally from pain, abdominal tension and rectal tenesmus. The disease was revealed clearly 18 months after removing the intrauterine device.
Results:
The diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis was only possible after hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy and multiple biopsies. At histological features a focus with actynomycetes colonies was evident.
Conclusions:
This study supports the previously reported association between the pelvic location of actinomycosis and the use of the IUD. The removal of IUD should be mandatory in postmenopausal women.