Actinomycotic Osteomyelitis of the Mandible: A Case Report

Abstract

Actinomycosis is rare, chronic, slowly progressive disease caused by gram-positive anaerobic organisms from the Actinomycosis family that normally colonizes the oral cavity. Actinomycotic osteomyelitis is even more rare and refractory disease because diagnosis by bacterial culture is not easy. In our case, 80-year-old man visited our clinic with a complaint of swelling and severe sinus tracts without teeth evolvement on anterior mandible. Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated erosive bone destruction on anterior mandible, clinically suspected actinomycotic osteomyelitis. The patient also had thoracic actinomycosis on Lt. lower lung. We could diagnosis actinomycosis by histopathologic examination. He treated by conservative surgery and long term antibiotics. After 2 year, no recurrence was seen in CT scan.