Endoscopy 2013; 45(S 02): E276-E277
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1310142
Cases and Techniques Library (CTL)
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pancreatic actinomycosis presenting as pancreatic mass and diagnosed with endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)

S. Maestro
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
,
R. Trujillo
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
,
K. Geneux
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
,
M. Garcia
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
,
A. Martinez
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
,
A. G. Millan
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
,
F. Arisqueta
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo, Palencia, Palencia, Spain
› Institutsangaben
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Corresponding author

S. Maestro
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo
c/Donantes de Sangre, s/n
Palencia 34004
Spain   
Fax: +97-97-42508   

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
05. September 2013 (online)

 

We present the case of a 66-year-old man with a 4-month history of abdominal pain poorly responsive to opiate analgesics and with occasional fever. Prior to attending our unit, he had undergone basic studies and computed tomography (CT) at another hospital. The contrast-enhanced pancreatic protocol CT demonstrated a solid mass (16 × 18 mm) at the upper end of the body of the pancreas. The patient was referred to our endoscopy unit, and on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) a hypoechoic round mass was found. A fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy provided an adequate sample for histological examination ([Video 1]). There were no immediate complications following the biopsy. Histopathological analysis demonstrated chronic fibrosis ([Fig. 1]) and a diagnosis of actinomycosis was made. Clinically, the patient responded well to a 6-month course of antibiotics (penicillin). A repeat EUS at 6 months showed partial resolution of the pancreatic mass, and a new biopsy showed no evidence of Actinomyces ([Fig. 2]).


Qualität:
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the pancreatic mass.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Hematoxylin and eosin section of a pancreatic biopsy specimen from a 66-year-old man with a 4-month history of abdominal pain poorly responsive to opiate analgesics and with occasional fever. Note the basophilic masses with radiating eosinophilic colonies of Actinomyces.
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Hematoxylin and eosin section of the repeat pancreatic biopsy specimen showing lymphocytic infiltrates but no Actinomyces.

Actinomycosis is an uncommon, subacute-to-chronic chronic, suppurative disease that is usually caused by the filamentous, Gram-positive, nonacid-fast, anaerobic-to-microaerophilic bacterium Actinomyces israelii. The pathogen causes characteristic granulomatous inflammatory fibrosis, presenting as a mass lesion [1] [2]. Left untreated, there is contiguous spread of the suppurative and granulomatous inflammation, and formation of multiple abscesses and sinus tracts, which may discharge “sulfur-like” granules [2]. Rarely, actinomycosis occurs as an intra-abdominal infection [3] [4]. Actinomycosis of the abdomen and pelvis accounts for 20 % of reported cases and pancreatic involvement is even rarer. In the anecdotal cases that are reported, the CT presentation is difficult to distinguish from malignancy. The clinical presentation of abdominal actinomycosis includes low grade fever, weight loss, fatigue, change in bowel habits, vague abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and sensation of a mass that can mimic neoplastic symptoms. In our case, we were able to make a diagnosis of a granulomatous infection only after doing a pancreatic biopsy ([Video 1]). In most cases of actinomycosis, antimicrobial therapy is the only treatment required, although surgery may be carried out as an adjunctive measure in selected cases.

In conclusion, abdominal actinomycosis is an extremely rare infection that can mimic multiple disease processes and requires accurate diagnosis for successful therapy. Not all pancreatic masses are neoplastic and FNA is essential for diagnosis in these cases.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AF_2AZ_3AD


#

Competing interests: None

  • References

  • 1 Garner JP, Macdonald M, Kumar PK. Abdominal actinomycosis. Int J Surg 2007; 5: 441-448
  • 2 Sudhakar SS, Ross JJ. Short-term treatment of actinomycosis: two cases and a review. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38: 444-447
  • 3 Cintron JR, Del Pino A, Duarte B, Wood D. Abdominal actinomycosis: report of two cases and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum 1996; 39: 105-108
  • 4 Milam MR, Schultenover SJ, Crispens M et al. Retroperitoneal fibrosis secondary to actinomycosis with no intrauterine device. Obstet Gynecol 2004; 104: 1134-1136

Corresponding author

S. Maestro
Hospital Rio Carrion-Digestivo
c/Donantes de Sangre, s/n
Palencia 34004
Spain   
Fax: +97-97-42508   

  • References

  • 1 Garner JP, Macdonald M, Kumar PK. Abdominal actinomycosis. Int J Surg 2007; 5: 441-448
  • 2 Sudhakar SS, Ross JJ. Short-term treatment of actinomycosis: two cases and a review. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38: 444-447
  • 3 Cintron JR, Del Pino A, Duarte B, Wood D. Abdominal actinomycosis: report of two cases and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum 1996; 39: 105-108
  • 4 Milam MR, Schultenover SJ, Crispens M et al. Retroperitoneal fibrosis secondary to actinomycosis with no intrauterine device. Obstet Gynecol 2004; 104: 1134-1136

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Hematoxylin and eosin section of a pancreatic biopsy specimen from a 66-year-old man with a 4-month history of abdominal pain poorly responsive to opiate analgesics and with occasional fever. Note the basophilic masses with radiating eosinophilic colonies of Actinomyces.
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Hematoxylin and eosin section of the repeat pancreatic biopsy specimen showing lymphocytic infiltrates but no Actinomyces.