Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease caused by Actinomyces israelii, a gram-positive anaerobic saprophyte germ that is a normal inhabitant of the upper intestinal tract in humans. Actinomyces israelii rarely cause abdominal infections or actinomycosis. Abdominal actinomysosis is characterised by fistulae and abscesses and may mimic cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. Abdominal actinomycosis is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, and often require surgical removal of the diseased tissue, allowing pathologists for giving the definitive diagnosis, revealed by characteristic "sulfur granules". The authors report herein the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography evoked complicated inflammatory bowel disease and surgical procedure was decided. Laparoscopic exploration did not provide further significant information, and laparotomy with diseased bowel resection was performed. Pathology demonstrated "sulfur granules" and allowed the diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis. This case demonstrated that abdominal actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis when computed tomography shows an infiltrative and inflammatory mass.

Actinomycosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis contracted in Belgium.

We report herein the case of a Belgian 76-year-old woman who developed a hepatic tumour suspected to be a breast cancer metastasis. Radiological imaging and guided biopsies were not contributive. The patient underwent an explorative laparoscopy with frozen sections that did not provide further diagnosis, and an open left bisegmentectomy was performed during the same anaesthesia. Histopathological examination of the hepatic mass showed Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes, demonstrating alveolar echinococcosis. As our patient denied any travel in foreign countries and has undergone regular abdominal ultrasonographies since her mastectomy, it is highly likely that this alveolar echinococcosis had been contracted in Belgium. If some imported cases may be seldom managed in Belgium, to our knowledge, this case is the first occurrence of alveolar echinococcosis contracted in Belgium. This report, added to the demonstration of E. multilocaris infection of 50% of red foxes in Southern Belgium, and the potential infection of domestic cats and dogs, should attract attention of the medical community on the possible outbreak of endemic alveolar echinococcosis in Belgium, and on the related public health concerns.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine in the young adult: unusual diagnostic approach].

The authors report the case of a 40-year-old woman with fever and diarrhoea in whom a tumour of the small intestine was discovered by computerized tomography (CT), the barium meal being not contributory. Transcutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsies under CT guiding revealed a grade II leiomyosarcoma. Twenty months after radical resection, the patient is alive and asymptomatic. The authors review the literature about the histological grading and the immunocytochemical characteristics of leiomyosarcoma, its treatment and prognosis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Psammoma bodies found in cervicovaginal smears. A case report.

Psammoma bodies and adenocarcinoma cells were identified in a cervicovaginal smear of a young woman. The identification of these cells aided in the diagnosis of this patient. This report adds to the limited number of cases in the literature.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Anatomo-pathologic aspects of malignant tumors of the liver].

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Adenoma, Bile Duct↗