Actinomycetoma masquerading as an abdominal neoplasm.

Despite the fact that infection accompanying actinomycotic organisms is relatively rare, the possibility of such infection should be kept in mind because the organism is known to be commensal in the oral cavity, lungs, and intestinal tract. Abdominal lesions may mimic a neoplasm in many ways--physical findings, clinical course, and roentgenographic changes. Since the bacterium is anaerobic and difficult to grow on culture, one may have to rely on histologic confirmation for diagnosis. The infection can usually be eradicated by large doses of antibiotic (penicillin) over an extended period of time.