Pelvic actinomycosis with retained intrauterine fetal bone: a case report

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare infection that can manifest as pelvic inflammatory disease and in severe cases can cause extensive fibrosis. Most cases are associated with long-standing use of an intrauterine device (IUD).

A 30-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, fever and a pelvic mass. She underwent removal of an intrauterine foreign body, surgical drainage of a tuboovarian abscess and intravenous antibiotic therapy. Pathology studies revealed that the foreign body consisted of bone tissue, and the agent of infection was identified as Actinomyces israelii.

Pelvic actinomycosis, although usually occurring in women using an IUD, may result from retained intrauterine fetal bone through a similar pathogenesis.