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Actinomycotic mastoiditis complicated by sigmoid sinus thrombosis and labyrinthine fistula

Cecilia Lezcano1, Jeffrey P Simons, Kathryn L Colman

  • 11 Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Pediatric and Developmental Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society
|August 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Actinomyces infections are rare but can cause serious complications. This case highlights intracranial complications arising from actinomycotic mastoiditis in a pediatric patient.

Area of Science:

  • Medical microbiology
  • Infectious diseases
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Actinomyces are unusual pathogens causing indolent infections in various body sites.
  • While typically localized, Actinomyces infections can become destructive and systemic.
  • Actinomycotic infections of the head and neck, including mastoiditis, are infrequently reported.

Observation:

  • A 10-year-old male presented with nausea, vomiting, and headache.
  • The patient developed intracranial complications secondary to actinomycotic mastoiditis.

Findings:

  • This case details the progression of actinomycotic mastoiditis to severe intracranial complications.
  • The clinical presentation underscores the potential severity of Actinomyces infections.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering Actinomyces in refractory or unusual head and neck infections.
  • Emphasizes the need for prompt diagnosis and management of actinomycotic mastoiditis to prevent neurological sequelae.
  • Contributes to the understanding of rare infectious etiologies of intracranial complications.
Keywords:
actinomycosislabyrinthine fistulamastoiditissigmoid sinus thrombosis

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