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Abdominal Actinomycosis in Children: A Case Report and Literature Review
Noppadol Wacharachaisurapol1, Jeffrey M Bender, Larry Wang
1From the *Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; †Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, ‡Department of Pathology, §Department of Surgery, ¶Department of Radiology, and ‖Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Insights
Pediatric abdominal actinomycosis, a rare infection, can mimic tumors. This case highlights Actinomyces meyeri in an 11-year-old girl with abdominal pain and a mass, emphasizing diagnostic challenges.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Surgical pathology
- Medical imaging in children
Background:
- Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare bacterial infection in children, often presenting as a tumor-like mass.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old girl presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and drainage.
- Computed tomography revealed an abdominal wall mass, suggesting a complex abdominal condition.
Findings:
- Surgical debridement cultures confirmed the presence of Actinomyces meyeri, a rare pathogen in pediatric abdominal cases.
- A literature review identified 18 additional pediatric cases since 1964, providing a broader clinical context.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare infections like actinomycosis in pediatric abdominal masses.
- Accurate microbiological diagnosis is essential for targeted antibiotic therapy and surgical management.
- Further research into pediatric abdominal actinomycosis can improve diagnostic strategies and patient care.
Abstract:
Abdominal actinomycosis is an uncommon pediatric infection that often manifests with a tumor-like lesion. We describe a previously healthy 11-year-old girl who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and drainage. Computed tomography scan showed an abdominal wall mass. Surgical debridement cultures grew Actinomyces meyeri. Literature review identified 18 additional pediatric cases since 1964 that we have summarized.
