[How fine needle aspiration biopsy make it possible to avoid extensive surgery. A case of abdominopelvic actinomycosis]. / Comment la ponction guidée à l'aiguille fine peut éviter une chirurgie mutilante.

ABSTRACT

A case of abdominopelvic actinomycosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy is reported. The patient, using an intrauterine device for five years, had a pelvic mass infiltrating the left ovary and five hepatic masses. Cytological smears prepared from an ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of one of the hepatic masses, showed actinomycotic granule. In the literature, few cases of abdominopelvic actinomycosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy are reported. This affection, able to simulate a neoplasia on clinical and radiological grounds, is usually diagnosed on the histology of the surgical specimen. Ultrasound and computerized tomography allows to guide fine needle into necrotic areas where the probability to meet actinomycotic granules is maximum and so to avoid an extensive surgery.