J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2017 Aug;43(4):282-285. 10.5125/jkaoms.2017.43.4.282.

Actinomyces: a deceptive infection of oral cavity

• Thukral R
• Shrivastav K
• Mathur V
• Barodiya A
• Shrivastav S

• KMID: 2391361
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2017.43.4.282

Abstract

Actinomycosis is an infrequent chronic infection regarded as the most misdiagnosed disease by experienced clinicians. The Office of Rare Diseases at the National Institute of Health has also listed this disease as a "rare disease." This article presents a case report of actinomycosis of the alveolus with unusual clinical features but a successful resolution. It also states the importance of biopsy of deceptive inflammatory lesions that do not respond or recur after conventional treatment modalities.

Keyword

Actinomycosis; Alveolous; Mycoses; Oral cavity; Sulfur granules

MeSH Terms

Actinomyces*
Actinomycosis
Biopsy
Mouth*
Mycoses
Rare Diseases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Intraoral picture.

• 

  Fig. 2 Orthopantogram.

• 

  Fig. 3 Histomicrograph showing decorticated bone tissue (H&E staining, ×100).

• 

  Fig. 4 Histomicrograph revealing colonies of actinomyces (H&E staining, ×100).

• 

  Fig. 5 Histomicrograph demonstrating the Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon (H&E staining, ×100).

• 

  Fig. 6 Histomicrograph showing lymphoplasmocytic infiltration (H&E staining, ×100).

• 

  Fig. 7 Histomicrograph of a Gomori stain with eosin as a counter stain (×100).

Reference

1. Crossman T, Herold J. Actinomycosis of the maxilla: a case report of a rare oral infection presenting in general dental practice. Br Dent J. 2009; 206:201–202. PMID: 19247335.

2. Boyanova L, Sabov R, Kolarov R, Mitov I. Chronic odontogenic osteomyelitis and facial actinomycosis of six month duration. JMM Case Rep. 2014; DOI: 10.1099/jmmcr.0.000729.

3. Moniruddin ABM, Begum H, Nahar K. Actinomycosis: an update. Med Today. 2010; 22:43–47.

4. Sakallioğlu U, Açikgöz G, Kirtiloğlu T, Karagöz F. Rare lesions of the oral cavity: case report of an actinomycotic lesion limited to the gingiva. J Oral Sci. 2003; 45:39–42. PMID: 12816363.

5. Rathnaprabhu V, Rajesh R, Sunitha M. Intraoral actinomycotic lesion: a case report. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2003; 21:144–146. PMID: 14765614.

6. Valour F, Sénéchal A, Dupieux C, Karsenty J, Lustig S, Breton P, et al. Actinomycosis: etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and management. Infect Drug Resist. 2014; 7:183–197. PMID: 25045274.

7. Yadegarynia D, Merza MA, Sali S, Firuzkuhi AG. A rare case presentation of oral actinomycosis. Int J Mycobacteriol. 2013; 2:187–189. PMID: 26785990.

8. Gupta N, Ahmed MBR, Jadhav K. Deceptive lesion in the palate: a case report. Indian J Multidis Dent. 2013; 4:880–883.

9. Behbehani MJ, Heeley JD, Jordan HV. Comparative histopathology of lesions produced by Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Actinomyces viscosus in mice. Am J Pathol. 1983; 110:267–274. PMID: 6829706.

10. Moghimi M, Salentijn E, Debets-Ossenkop Y, Karagozoglu KH, Forouzanfar T. Treatment of cervicofacial actinomycosis: a report of 19 cases and review of literature. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013; 18:e627–e632. PMID: 23722146.