Primitive iliac bone actinomycosis in a child

Actinomycosis is a rare infection, even in adults, due to an anaerobic gram positive strain. Case report - An osteolytic tumor of the iliac bone was found in a six-year -old girl with no previous history. After four months of evolution, the mas s had invaded the pelvis with clinical and radiologic evidence of a maligna nt tumor. Actinomyces was found only in the third biopsy, after a three-wee k-long bacteriologic culture. Conclusion - This is the first description of a primitive iliac bone actino mycosis, probably due to hematologic transmision. (C) 2000 Editions scienti fiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.