Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T03:25:42.352Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cervicofacial actinomycosis: an unusual cause of submandibular swelling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

R. J. Gaffney*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
M. A. Walsh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
*
Robert J. Gaffney, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland

Abstract

Two cases of cervicofacial actinomycosis, resulting in submandibular swelling, are presented. How actinomycosis may present under the guise of malignancy is well demonstrated.

Factors predisposing to the condition, difficulties with diagnosis, isolation methods of the causative organism and treatment of the disease, are discussed.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bartels, L. J., Vrabec, D. P. (1978) Cervicofacial actinomycosis: a variable disorder. Archives of Otolaryngology 104: 705708CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, J. R. (1973) Human actinomycosis: a study of 181 subjects. Human Pathology 4: 319330CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feder, H. M. (1990) Actinomycosis manifesting as an acute painless lump of the jaw. Pediatrics 85: 858864CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gaffney, R. J., Harrison, M., Sweeney, E., Walsh, M. A., Cafferkey, M. T. (1993) The incidence and role of Actinomyces in recurrent acute tonsillitis. Clinical Otolaryngology 18: 268272CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pollock, P. G., Koontz, F. P., Viner, T. F., Krause, C., Meyers, D. S., Valincenti, J. F. (1978) Cervicofacial actinomycosis: rapid diagnosis by thin-needle aspiration. Archives of Otolaryngology 104: 491494CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rankow, R. M., Abraham, D. M. (1978) Actinomycosis: masquerader in the head and neck. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 87: 230237CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weese, W. C., Smith, I. M. (1975) A study of 57 cases of actinomycosis over a 36-year period: a diagnostic 'failure' with good prognosis after treatment. Archives of Internal Medicine 135: 15621568CrossRefGoogle Scholar