[Abdominal actinomycosis - 3 case reports and literature overview]

The authors present three cases of abdominal actinomycosis that were initially diagnosed as acute appendicitis, an abscess in the left groin and pelvic tumour, probably of gynaecological origin. Definitive diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis was established as late as postoperatively. Abdominal actinomycosis is a chronic, infectious disease characterized most frequently by non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, bowel obstruction, weight loss, sometimes palpable resistance, and leukocytosis [1-9]. Diagnosis may be difficult and needs to be taken into account, especially in patients with risk factors.