Actinomyces israeli is a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium, normally found in the oral cavity and the gastrointestinal tract. It usually becomes pathogenic only in the presence of pathologically affected/necrotic tissue. The cervicofascial region is involved in about 60% of the cases. Dental caries represent a potential source.
Actinomycosis of the genitourinary system is usually secondary to direct extension from contiguous abdominal sources or subsequent retroperitoneal spread. Hematogenous spread occurs rarely.[
2] Previous surgery, dental extraction, trauma and intrauterine contraceptive device use represent predisposing factors of the disease. Renal involvement may mimic neoplasia.[
3] The disease presents clinically with general symptoms of chronic disease such as low-grade fever, loin pain and weight loss, although high-grade fever, sepsis and death have been reported.[
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3] Actinomycosis of the kidney may present as: renal abscess, abscess forming pyelonephritis, pyonephrosis with renal calculosis and necrotizing papilllitis. Two types of CT patterns have been described in renal actinomycosis:[
4] a) solid masses with areas of low attenuation and variable contrast enhancement and b) cystic masses with thick enhancing walls.
This is the first report of an SRC suppurated by Actinomyces israeli. Our patient had no obvious inciting events such as a history of recent or remote bowel surgery (e.g. perforated acute appendicitis, perforated colonic diverticulitis following trauma to the abdomen), ingestion of foreign bodies (e.g. chicken or fish bones) or a past history of intrauterine contraceptive device use.
Although renal actinomycosis usually presents as an infiltrative mass lesion, an interesting point is that
Actinomyces israeli was restricted within the cyst without involving the renal parenchyma. Usually, histology reveals yellow-grey nodules with microabscesses which contain the characteristic lobular deep purple micro-organism colonies (sulphur granules).[
3] Thoracic, lower abdominal and pelvic CT scans were normal. Therefore, based on these facts, SRC actinomycosis is considered to be primary in this case.
Suppuration of an SRC is generally rare. Infection occurs primarily via the ascending route. Hematogenous remote seeding has also been described. Infection most commonly involves gram-negative organisms. Gram-positive (Staphylococcus) or other organisms are extremely rare. A CT scan may set the diagnosis of a suppurated renal cyst by indicating wall thickening and enhancement. However, in our case CT scan findings were not suggestive of suppuration, since Hounsfield units were those of water density and mural enhancement was lacking. Furthermore, premorbid CT scans were not available for review. In our opinion, CT scan helps in the diagnosis of a suppurated SRC mainly in cases with baseline previous scans available, where the size and density change of the cyst can be compared.
Planning of the appropriate management (percutaneous aspiration, cyst excision or nephrectomy) presupposes an early and accurate diagnosis, which is not always that easy. Conservative management of renal actinomycosis with high doses of penicillin is an accepted alternative considering a high degree of suspicion and an early diagnosis with fine needle aspiration.[
1] However, CT findings could not exclude carcinoma/hydatid cyst, precluding drainage. Although
Actinomyces species appear to be susceptible to a wide range of beta-lactam agents which, combined with beta-lactamase inhibitors are regarded as agents of first choice, it is well known that infected simple SRCs are highly resistant to antimicrobial chemotherapy due to poor antibiotic penetration.[
5] Therefore, it is unknown whether in our case high doses of penicillin alone could have been curative considering the septic status of the patient and the pharmacokinetic properties of beta-lactam agents in simple SRCs.
