ACTINOMYCOSIS AN NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA, F ORTUITOUS ASSOCIATION

Two cases of actinomycosis associated with non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL ) are reported. In one case, low grade NHL was diagnosed many years af ter actinomycosis because of the persistence of abdominal lymphadenopa thy in spite of antibiotic therapy. In the second case, hepatic metast asis were initially suspected until actinomycosis diagnosis was made b y percutaneous liver biopsy under scanography. High grade NHL was diag nosed by laparotomy and liver biopsy performed 6 weeks after the onset of antibiotic therapy as no improvement in hepatic lesions was obtain ed. These two case reports outline the difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of actinomycosis and the indication of a repeat biopsy when actinomycosis does not respond to antimicrobial therapy because of th e possibility of concomitant malignancy.