Cervicofacial actinomycosis as differential diagnosis of cavum carcinoma: case report

• Published in: Archivos argentinos de pediatría Vol. 115; no. 3; pp. e166 - e169
• Main Authors: Anteliz García, Eliana T, Carballo, Carolina M, Estévez, Samanta, Diana, Sofía, de Mena, Arturo, Manonelles, Gabriela, Cazes, Claudia I, López, Eduardo L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Argentina 01-06-2017
• Subjects: Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial - diagnosis; Adolescent; Carcinoma - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Actinomyces; children; cervicofacial actinomycosis
• ISSN: 1668-3501
• DOI: 10.5546/aap.2017.e166

Paediatric actinomycosis is an infrequent infectious disease caused by Actinomyces spp. Cervicofacial infections are usually related to disruption in oral mucosal membranes. We discuss the case of a 15-year-old girl who refers an 8-month history of odynophagia and changes in her tone of voice after getting a tongue piercing. She received multiple antibiotic treatments with slight improvement. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy. The patient was referred to our Hospital for treatment but, when the biopsy was analyzed again, oncological pathology was excluded and oropharyngeal actinomycosis was diagnosed. She received a total of 6 months of antibiotic treatment with favorable evolution. While oral piercings have not been yet described as a risk factor for oropharyngeal actinomycosis, the mucosal disruption could favor the onset of this disease.