Isolated hepatic actinomycosis: a case report

Abstract

Introduction: Actinomyces are slow growing, non-spore forming, gram-positive, branching bacilli that thrive in anaerobic and microareophilic conditions. Actinomyces are more commonly associated with oral and cervicofacial infections. Hepatic involvement in infections of the abdomen (known as isolated hepatic actinomycosis) is rare, accounting for only 5% of all cases of actinomycosis.

Case presentation: We present the case of a 75-year-old Caucasian woman with a 3-month history of night sweats, fever, chills, abdominal bloating, anorexia, weight-loss, and early satiety. The patient was found to have isolated hepatic actinomycosis infection after undergoing a laparotomy with a biopsy of the liver. The patient has now recovered.

Conclusion: Isolated hepatic actinomycosis is a rare and often overlooked etiology for a liver mass. Given its subacute presentation and nondescript symptomatology, physicians should be aware of this differential and the potential pitfalls in diagnosis and management.

Figure 1

CT scan of the liver demonstrating mass concerning for abscess and tumor.

Figure 2

Grosse liver biopsy demonstrating multiple micro-abscesses.

Figure 3

Tissue gram-stain demonstrating elongated, gram-positive branching bacilli.

Figure 4

Frozen section demonstrating the characteristic sulfur granules.