Case 85: pelvic actinomycosis in association with an intrauterine device

Endometriosis MR mimickers: T2-hypointense lesions

Endometriosis is a common crippling disease in women of reproductive age. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the cornerstone radiological technique for both the diagnosis and management of endometriosis. While its sensitivity, especially in deep infiltrating endometriosis, is superior to that of ultrasonography, many sources of false-positive results exist, leading to a lack of specificity. Hypointense lesions or pseudo-lesions on T2-weighted images include anatomical variants, fibrous connective tissues, benign and malignant tumors, feces, surgical materials, and post treatment scars which may mimic deep pelvic infiltrating endometriosis. False positives can have a major impact on patient management, from diagnosis to medical or surgical treatment. This educational review aims to help the radiologist acknowledge MRI criteria, pitfalls, and the differential diagnosis of deep pelvic infiltrating endometriosis to reduce false-positive results. Critical relevance statement MRI in deep infiltrating endometriosis has a 23% false-positive rate, leading to misdiagnosis. T2-hypointense lesions primarily result from anatomical variations, fibrous connective tissue, benign and malignant tumors, feces, surgical material, and post-treatment scars. Key points • MRI in DIE has a 23% false-positive rate, leading to potential misdiagnosis.• Anatomical variations, fibrous connective tissues, neoplasms, and surgical alterations are the main sources of T2-hypointense mimickers.• Multisequence interpretation, morphologic assessment, and precise anatomic localization are crucial to prevent overdiagnosis.• Gadolinium injection is beneficial for assessing endometriosis differential diagnosis only in specific conditions.

CT imaging of intrauterine devices (IUD): expected findings, unexpected findings, and complications

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a commonly used form of long-acting reversible contraception, which either contain copper or levonorgestrel to prevent pregnancy. Although symptomatic patients with indwelling IUDs may first undergo ultrasound to assess for device malposition and complications, IUDs are commonly encountered on CT in patients undergoing evaluation for unrelated indications. Frequently, IUD malposition and complications may be asymptomatic or clinically unsuspected. For these reasons, it is important for the radiologist to carefully scrutinize the IUD on any study in which it is encountered. To do so, the radiologist must recognize that normally positioned IUDs are located centrally within the uterine cavity. IUDs are extremely effective in preventing pregnancy, though inadvertent pregnancy risk is higher with malpositioned IUDs. Presence of fibroids or Mullerian abnormalities may preclude proper IUD placement. Radiologists play an important role in identifying complications when they arise and special considerations when planning for an IUD placement. There is a wide range of IUD malposition, affecting IUDs differently depending on the type of IUD and its mechanism of action. IUD malposition is the most common complication, but embedment and/or partial perforation can and can lead to difficulty when removed. Retained IUD fragments can result in continued contraceptive effect. Perforated IUDs do not typically cause intraperitoneal imaging findings.

Identifying the deceiver: the non-neoplastic mimickers of genital system neoplasms

Tumors of the genital system are common and imaging is of crucial importance for their detection and diagnosis. Several non-neoplastic diseases may mimic these tumors and differential diagnosis may be difficult in certain cases. Misdiagnosing non-neoplastic diseases as tumor may prompt unnecessary medical treatment or surgical interventions. In this article, we aimed to present the imaging characteristics of non-neoplastic diseases of the male and female genital systems that may mimic neoplastic processes. Increasing awareness of the imaging specialists to these entities may have a severe positive impact on the management of these patients.

Rare cause of ovarian mass

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare entity that occurs almost exclusively in women, the presentation of which is usually non-specific and variable. Pelvic actinomycosis is almost always associated with the use of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). Pelvic actinomycosis unrelated to IUD use is almost always associated with previous surgical procedures. The symptoms, clinical signs and radiological findings are usually non-specific, mimicking an ovarian malignancy. So an awareness of this rare condition and a proper diagnosis can avoid unnecessary surgeries because these cases can be treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics. We present a case of pelvic actinomycosis which masqueraded as an ovarian malignancy.

Pelvic Actinomycosis

Introduction

Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces, Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. Its symptomatology imitates some malignant pelvic tumours, tuberculosis, or nocardiosis, causing abscesses and fistulas. Actinomycoses are opportunistic infections and require normal mucous barriers to be altered. No epidemiological studies have been conducted to determine prevalence or incidence of such infections.

Objective

To analyse the clinical cases of pelvic actinomycosis reported worldwide, to update the information about the disease.

Methods

A systematic review of worldwide pelvic actinomycosis cases between 1980 and 2014 was performed, utilising the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The following information was analysed: year, country, type of study, number of cases, use of intrauterine device (IUD), final and initial diagnosis, and method of diagnosis.

Results

63 articles met the search criteria, of which 55 reported clinical cases and 8 reported cross-sectional studies.

Conclusions

Pelvic actinomycosis is confusing to diagnose and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic chronic inflammatory lesions. It is commonly diagnosed through a histological report, obtained after a surgery subsequent to an erroneous initial diagnosis. A bacterial culture in anaerobic medium could be useful for the diagnosis but requires a controlled technique and should be performed using specialised equipment.

Can Surgery Be Avoided? Exclusive Antibiotic Treatment for Pelvic Actinomycosis

Pelvic actinomycosis is an uncommon, slowly progressing granulomatous infection that has been associated with the presence of intrauterine devices. Due to its unspecific clinical and radiologic findings, it can mimic pelvic or intra-abdominal malignancy leading to mutilating surgery of high morbidity. Rarely, diagnosis is made preoperatively and in most cases surgical intervention is necessary. The patient in our case is a 42-year-old female with an IUD for 15 years diagnosed with pelvic actinomycosis. Patient was uniquely diagnosed preoperatively through paracentesis and treated conservatively with prolonged antibiotic therapy and without any type of surgical intervention. Follow-up at 1 year showed almost complete radiologic resolution of the inflammatory mass, nutritional recovery, and absence of symptoms. Pelvic actinomycosis can be successfully diagnosed and treated medically without surgical interventions.

Case 219: Pelvic Actinomycosis Mimicking Malignant Tumor

A 53-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of left inguinocrural and lumbar pain and anorexia with weight loss. No fever was reported. The patient had no prior pelvic surgery. Physical examination revealed a palpable nontender mass in the left groin area. There was no bloody or purulent discharge. Laboratory findings revealed inflammation with an increased C-reactive protein level (127 mg/L [1209 nmol/L]), leukocytosis (13 800/mm(3)), and microcytic anemia (hemoglobin level, 7.2 g/dL). Computed tomography (CT), fluorine 18 ((18)F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed.

Pelvic Actinomycosis Associated with an Intrauterine Contraceptive Device Demonstrated on F-18 FDG PET/CT

A 44-year-old woman with a history of dysmenorrhea, obstipation, and low back pain was investigated for gynecological disorder. Physical examination indicated a “frozen pelvis”. Ultrasound examination revealed the ovaries adherent to the uterus, bilateral ovarian cysts, and an intrauterine contraceptive device in situ, which reportedly had been in place for 19 years. Prior to a scheduled laparoscopy, the patient returned with oedema of the lower abdomen and legs, fatigue, and weight loss. Laboratory findings included elevated CA-125, anemia, leucocytosis and high C-reactive protein. Pelvic actinomycosis was subsequently diagnosed. We report the PET/CT appearance of this condition.

[Abdominal wall actinomycosis. A report of a case]

BACKGROUND

Abdominal wall Actinomycosis is a rare disease associated with the use of intrauterine device and as a complication of abdominal surgery. Diagnosis is difficult because it is unusual and behaves like a malignant neoplasm.

AIM

A case report is presented of a patient who had used an intrauterine device for four years and developed a stony tumour in the abdominal wall associated with a set of symptoms that, clinically and radiologically, was simulating a peritoneal carcinomatosis associated with paraneoplastic syndrome, even in the course of an exploratory laparotomy.

CLINICAL CASE

The patient attended our hospital with a two-month history of abdominal pain and symptoms that mimic a paraneoplastic syndrome. The diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis was suspected by the finding of the microorganism in cervical cytology together with other cultures and Actinomyces negative in pathological studies, confirming the suspicion of a complete cure with empirical treatment with penicillin.

CONCLUSIONS

Actinomycosis should be considered in patients with pelvic mass or abdominal wall mass that mimics a malignancy. Antibiotic therapy is the first treatment choice and makes a more invasive surgical management unnecessary.

Differentiating pelvic actinomycosis from advanced ovarian cancer: a report of two cases, management reflections and literature review

Pelvic actinomycosis comprises a rare, subacute to chronic bacterial infection characterised by suppurative and granulomatous inflammation. Diagnosis is difficult as it may simulate pelvic malignancies. Laboratory and radiological findings are non-specific. We reported on 2 cases of pelvic actinomycosis mimicking ovarian malignancy with different management approaches that lead to opposite outcomes. We reviewed the literature on pelvic actinomycosis imitating ovarian cancer with a focus on its surgical management. Despite agreement on the duration of antibiotic therapy following surgical management, consensus regarding surgical approach was rather equivocal. We concluded that pelvic actinomycosis should be strongly suspected in women with presumed ovarian cancer of atypical presentation and a history of intrauterine devices (IUD).

[Pseudo tumor pelvic actinomycosis associated with intrauterine device: report of three cases]

L'actinomycose est une maladie chronique suppurative granulomateuse d'origine infectieuse responsable d'un syndrome tumoral. La localisation pelvienne est rare et souvent associée, chez la femme, au port au long court du dispositif intra-utérin (DIU). Le diagnostic préopératoire n'est possible que dans 17% des cas. Nous rapportons trois observations, d'actinomycose pelvienne pseudo tumorale compliquées chez des femmes porteuses de DIU, qui illustrent le rôle de ce moyen de contraception dans la genèse de cette pathologie ainsi que les difficultés de prise en charge.

Pyometra Perforation Caused by Actinomyces without Intrauterine Device Involvement

An 86-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and severe decubitus at the sacral and calcaneal regions stemming from poor daily activity was diagnosed with pyometra perforation caused by Actinomyces. No foreign materials, including an IUD, were found inside the uterus. Pyometra is usually caused by Enterobacteriaceae or anaerobes derived from the gastrointestinal tract. The virulence of Actinomyces is rather low, and, in almost all the reported cases of Actinomyces-related pyometra, an intrauterine device (IUD) was involved. Although rare, Actinomyces may be ascribed as a virulent pathogen that causes pyometra in the absence of foreign materials.

Management of patients with huge pelvic actinomycosis complicated with hydronephrosis: a case report

Actinomycosis is an uncommon, chronic, granulomatous disease caused by several species of the genus Actinomyces, a Gram-positive, filamentous bacterium that normally colonizes mucosal areas. Actinomycosis can be mistaken for malignant tumors, and in most cases the diagnosis is delayed or missed entirely until surgery. Actinomycosis in the abdomen or pelvis mostly results from prolonged use of an intrauterine device. We report the case of a 40-year-old female who presented with decreased urine production, poor appetite, marked loss of body weight and intermittent lower abdominal pain for 3 months. Abdominal computed tomography indicated a large infiltrative pelvic mass that was complicated by bilateral hydronephrosis, bladder compression and small bowel adhesions. Despite the elevated levels of cancer antigen 125, we suspected pelvic actinomycosis because of a 15-year history of an intrauterine device. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of soft tissue obtained from a laparotomy biopsy. We successfully treated the patient with prolonged antibiotics instead of surgical eradication. Abdominal computed tomography obtained 1 year later showed almost complete resolution of the pelvic inflammatory mass.

Pelvic actinomycosis presenting with a large abscess and bowel stenosis with marked response to conservative treatment: a case report

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare disease that can result in abscess formation, bowel obstruction, and other serious complications. Moreover, the correct diagnosis can seldom be established before radical surgery because the disease often mimics pelvic neoplasms. It has been recently recognized that pelvic actinomycosis is associated with long-term use of an intrauterine contraceptive device.

We report a woman with a long-standing intrauterine contraceptive device who visited our hospital complaining of symptoms mimicking large bowel ileus with a subacute course. X-ray fluorography and sigmoidoscopy showed marked stenosis in the sigmoid colon but rejected the possibility of colon cancers. Abdomino-pelvic CT and MRI revealed a huge abscess lying over the urinary bladder and anterior to the uterus. Furthermore, a cervical Papanicolaou smear disclosed Actinomyces species. We removed the intrauterine device from the patient. Subsequent high-dose ampicillin administration led to dramatic shrinkage of the abscess and improved the management of the bowel movement quickly. This is a successful case of symptomatic pelvic actinomycosis that was correctly diagnosed and treated without unnecessary surgical intervention.