Solid cast-forming actinomycotic canaliculitis: case report

Solid-cast forming actinomycotic canaliculitis is an uncommon cause of unilateral chronic red eye resistant to conventional topical medical therapy. The authors report the history of a 62-year old woman who was complaining of mucopurulent discharge from the right lower canaliculus for a period of 12 months. Culture yielded a few colonies of Actinomyces. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a dilation of the right lower canaliculus. The signal was hypointense and heterogeneous on both T1 and T2 weighted sequences. Surgery enabled removal of several solid yellowish casts and resulted in resolution of the disease. Histopathologic examination confirmed the presence of dense, basophilic conglomerates of filamentous organisms. Because rhinologists have more and more opportunities to perform surgery of the lachrymal pathway they need to be informed about this clinical entity.