Mandibular Actinomyces Infection Mimicking a Malignancy: Case Report

Turk Patoloji Derg. 2017;33(3):256-258. doi: 10.5146/tjpath.2014.01276.

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic, suppurative and granulomatous disease caused by Actinomyces israelii, which is a filamentous, anaerobic, gram-positive, saprophytic organism in the oral cavity. Diagnosis of actinomycosis depends on positive culture or identification of Actinomyces colonies and sulfur granules in histological specimens. In our case, a mass had been growing in the mandible for eight months. The mass appeared to be malignant, both clinically and radiologically. A histopathological examination of the mandible revealed actinomycosis. It should be noted that actinomycosis can mimic a malignancy, and for differential diagnosis, bone biopsy or fine-needle aspiration should be performed pre-operatively.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Actinomycosis / pathology*
  • Adolescent
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mandibular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Mandibular Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnosis*
  • Osteomyelitis / microbiology