Hepatic actinomycosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration. A case report.

Examined in the article is the significance of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in diagnosing actinomycosis infections. A 43 old woman having worn a Saf-T-Coil IUD for 15 years and with a history of actinomycosis organisms shown in cervicovaginal smears developed hepatic actinomycosis 13 months after the IUD was removed. Smears showed inflammatory changes in the patient actinomycosis and an ovarian mass 5.1 cm. which was removed. Surgical exploration revealed an actinomycosis tubo-ovarian abscess the principal lesion in this case. When the patient showed symptoms of PID proper treatment and accurate recognition of pelvic actinomycosis may have prevented the development of the liver abscess. The nature of actinomycosis infection makes diagnosis difficult as detection may not occur until the disease is too well advanced. FNA cytology is useful in detecting actinomycosis because the organism is so difficult to culture. FNA cytology also because it provides more extensive sampling of purulent material is a more accurate speedy and far more economical method of diagnosis.