Endoscopic detection and therapy of colonic actinomycosis

Abdominal actinomycosis is a disease that is difficult to diagnose nonoperatively. Usual manifestations are abscesses and draining sinus tracts. Treatment is typically surgical and requires prolonged intravenous antibiotics. Presented is a patient who underwent surveillance colonoscopy after resection for colon carcinoma. Diagnosis of colonic actinomycosis and subsequent resolution was demonstrated endoscopically after lengthy oral penicillin therapy (2 g/day for 1 yr). This case documents that resection may not be necessary to effect cure of abdominal actinomycosis.