Carcinoma of the oesophagus masquerading as actinomycosis: a case report and a review of literature.

Actinomycosis is a granulomatous lesion caused by actinomyces species, which is an anaerobic non-spore forming gram-positive bacillus. It is a relatively uncommon disease which occurs as opportunistic infection. Most of the reported cases have underlying diseases predisposing them to actinomycosis3. This case report is presented to illustrate the necessity to exclude an underlying disease that may predispose individuals to secondary infection caused by actinomycosis. Two weeks after discharge the patient returned to hospital with symptom of dysphagia. Actinomycosis is not an uncommon disease which occurs throughout the world. Carcinoma of the oesophagus needs to be excluded in a patient with dysphagia and weight loss. Actinomycosis and carcinoma of the oesophagus may coexist in patient with dysphagia. The need for repeated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy to confirm or exclude a primary diagnosis of oesophageal actinomycosis has been endorsed by many authors.