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Actinomycosis presenting as carcinoma

J Hinnie¹, B C Jaques, E Bell

¹Department of Respiratory Medicine, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Postgraduate Medical Journal

|December 1, 1995

Summary

Actinomycosis can mimic carcinoma, leading to misdiagnosis. Two cases highlight the importance of histological confirmation before surgery for thoracic and pelvic-abdominal masses.

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Area of Science:

Medical Mycology
Surgical Pathology
Differential Diagnosis

Background:

Actinomycosis is a rare bacterial infection often confused with malignant neoplasms.
Carcinoma and actinomycosis share overlapping clinical and radiological features, complicating diagnosis.
Accurate differentiation is crucial for appropriate patient management and treatment.

Observation:

Two distinct cases of actinomycosis are presented: one in the thorax and another in the pelvic-abdominal region.
Both cases initially presented with clinical signs suggestive of carcinoma.
Patients proceeded to surgical intervention without a definitive preoperative histological diagnosis of actinomycosis.

Findings:

Histological examination ultimately confirmed actinomycosis in both cases, revealing the true nature of the disease.
The similar presentation of actinomycosis and carcinoma underscores diagnostic challenges.
Delayed or missed diagnosis can lead to unnecessary surgical procedures and suboptimal treatment.

Implications:

Emphasizes the critical need for thorough diagnostic evaluation, including histological confirmation, for suspected thoracic and pelvic-abdominal masses.
Highlights the importance of considering actinomycosis in the differential diagnosis of neoplastic-like lesions.
Suggests a review of diagnostic protocols to improve the early identification of actinomycosis and prevent misdiagnosis as carcinoma.

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