Massive paediatric cervicofacial actinomycoses masquerading as an ulcerative malignancy

Paediatric cervicofacial actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease caused by Actinomyces spp. and usually presents as a chronic, suppurative and granulomatous inflammation with a propensity to mimic malignant conditions. We discuss the case of an 11-year-old African female who presented with a chro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC infectious diseases 2016-08, Vol.16 (1), p.417-417, Article 417
Main Authors: Sama, Carlson-Babila, Mbarga, Nicole Fouda, Oben, Calvin Eta, Mbarga, Jules A, Nfor, Elvis Kiloh, Angwafo Iii, Fru F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actinomycosis
Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial - diagnosis
Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial - drug therapy
Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial - surgery
Administration, Intravenous
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
beta-Lactams
Care and treatment
Case Report
Case studies
Child
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Infectious diseases
Penicillins - therapeutic use
Prognosis
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Summary:Paediatric cervicofacial actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease caused by Actinomyces spp. and usually presents as a chronic, suppurative and granulomatous inflammation with a propensity to mimic malignant conditions. We discuss the case of an 11-year-old African female who presented with a chronic disfiguring cervical mass evolving over a 9 months period for which she had several unyielding consultations. Appropriate clinical and para-clinical evaluations were paramount to the diagnosis of an Actinomyces infection. We review the literature on its epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Actinomycosis still poses a diagnostic challenge. It is important for clinicians to consider the possibility of such rare infections in apparently malignant looking masses and also in lesions not responding to several antimicrobial treatments. The condition generally carries a good prognosis if recognised early and histopathological diagnosis is the gold standard.
ISSN:1471-2334
1471-2334
DOI:10.1186/s12879-016-1768-8