PMID: 18181449Jan 10, 2008Paper

Carcinoma of the oesophagus masquerading as actinomycosis: a case report and a review of literature

Pacific Health Dialog
I R Afolabi, V M Shashidhar

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a granulomatous lesion caused by actinomyces species, which is an anaerobic non-spore forming gram-positive bacillus. It is a relatively uncommon disease which occurs as opportunistic infection. Most of the reported cases have underlying diseases predisposing them to actinomycosis3. This case report is presented to illustrate the necessity to exclude an underlying disease that may predispose individuals to secondary infection caused by actinomycosis. Two weeks after discharge the patient returned to hospital with symptom of dysphagia. Actinomycosis is not an uncommon disease which occurs throughout the world. Carcinoma of the oesophagus needs to be excluded in a patient with dysphagia and weight loss. Actinomycosis and carcinoma of the oesophagus may coexist in patient with dysphagia. The need for repeated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy to confirm or exclude a primary diagnosis of oesophageal actinomycosis has been endorsed by many authors.

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Actinomycosis

Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic, and slowly progressive granulomatous disease caused by filamentous Gram positive anaerobic bacteria from the Actinomycetaceae family (genus Actinomyces). The disease is characterised by the formation of painful abscesses in the mouth, lungs,breast or gastrointestinal tract. Discover the latest research on actinomycosis here.

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