Actinomycosis of the sigmoid colon as the etiology of lower abdominal pain

We report a case of abdominal actinomycosis in a young woman wearing an intrauterine contraceptive device. The patient presented with right lower abdominal pain. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Intraoperatively two perforations of the sigma were detected, a sigmoidectomy was performed. Postoperatively no problems occurred. Histology revealed an abdominal actinomycosis. In the literature only some case reports are published dealing with abdominal actinomycosis. Women wearing intrauterine contraceptive devices seem to have a higher risk of actinomycosis. In unproblematic cases antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice. In cases of doubt as in our case surgery is recommended to confirm the diagnosis.