[Actinomycosis as a complication of blood diseases]

Two cases of actinomycosis in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) are presented. The first patient with blastic crisis in CML had painful infiltration above and beneath the clavicular region, affecting the right humeral joint, what required differentiation from neoplastic infiltration. Specific infiltration, formation of fistuli and good response to antibiotic therapy suggested actinomycosis. Finally actinomycosis was diagnosed by microbiological and histopathological examination. The infection with actinomycosis in the other patient interfered with early diagnosis of coexistant Hodgkin's disease. The histopathologic examination of right cervical lymph nodes indicated the chronic inflammatory process. The subsequent histo pathologic examination of the axillary lymph node showed Hodgkin's disease, type LD. Culture from the exudating wound after lymph node excision was positive for actinomyces. Simultaneous treatment with cytostatics and antibiotics resulted in complete recovery of patient. In the above reported patients, actinomycosis complicated the course of CML and HD. The immune deficiency of the organism in both patients facilitated the development of the actinomycosis.