Actinomycosis of the colon: A rare form of presentation

Actinomycosis is an uncommon entity, caused by an anaerobic bacterium, Acti nomyces israelii, which is a component of the human oral and gastrointestin al flora. The cervicofacial region is the commonest site of disease, and th e abdomen is the second commonest. In this situation the disease is almost always unifocal and restricted to the right colon, especially to the cecum. We report here the case of a patient with a very rare form of this entity, characterized by multiple foci of abdominal involvement with the most seve re lesions localized in the transverse and sigmoid colon. The clinical pres entation resembled a picture of colon perforation by cancer or diverticulit is, and the diagnosis war made by histopathologic examination of the lesion s removed at surgery. No predisposing factor was found. The infection was s uccessfully treated with a prolonged course of penicillin, after the surgic al removal of the lesions.