Actinomycosis of the Masseter Muscle: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A rare case of cervicofacial actinomycosis arising primarily in the masseter muscle is described. The patient was a healthy 74-year-old woman who was not immunocompromised and had no other primary pathological finding in the oral cavity. The importance of the differential diagnosis for this unusual infection is demonstrated with tumoral pathological findings. Possible predisposing factors as well as diagnostic and therapeutic methods are discussed.

Incidence of Actinomycosis in Tonsillectomized Patients: Histopathologic Data for 115 Cases and a Rare Localization of Actinomycosis in Tongue Base

“…Ancak malnütrisyon, radyoterapi, alkolizm, debilite, diabetes mellitus, maligniteler, HIV, lö-semi ve immünosüpresyon hastalığın predispozan faktörleri arasında yer almaktadır. Literatürde infeksiyonun insandan insana geçtiğini gösteren herhangi bir yayın bulunmamaktadır (1,2,7,(12)(13)(14)(15)(16).…”

Cervicofacial actinomycosis: Diagnosis and management

“…Infections of the periapical regions, nose, paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, hypopharynx, tongue, and trachea may also be seen [1,5•]. Occasionally, patients can develop involvement of the masseter muscle or thyroid, and rarely some individuals may have intracranial or thoracic extension of infection [6,7]. Depending on the composition of the concomitant synergistic flora, the onset of actinomycosis may be acute, subacute, or chronic.…”

Pathology Quiz Case 1: Diagnosis

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] Although our patient did not remember any previous injury to his lip, it could have become infected with actinomycosis because of previous minor mucosal trauma, eg, caused unknowingly by biting the lip when eating. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Although our patient did not remember any previous injury to his lip, it could have become infected with actinomycosis because of previous minor mucosal trauma, eg, caused unknowingly by biting the lip when eating.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] Although our patient did not remember any previous injury to his lip, it could have become infected with actinomycosis because of previous minor mucosal trauma, eg, caused unknowingly by biting the lip when eating. 4,5 Actinomycosis is correctly diagnosed on initial presentation in fewer than 10% cases because of its ability to mimic various other disorders and because of the lack of distinguishing clinical features in the initial course. Most human infections are characterized by granuloma formation and fibrosis.…”

“…Since our patient was generally healthy, the actinomycotic lesion of the lip was small and localized. 4,5 Actinomycetes are gram-positive, non-acid-fast, filamentous, branched anaerobic bacteria. The lesion typically appears as a slowly enlarging, painless swelling of woody consistency that results from active connective tissue proliferation with extensive infiltration to the surrounding tissues.…”