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Massive paediatric cervicofacial actinomycoses masquerading as an ulcerative malignancy.
Carlson-Babila Sama1, Nicole Fouda Mbarga2, Calvin Eta Oben3,4
1Islamic Medicalised Health Centre, Babessi, Cameroon and Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Cameroon. sama.carlson@yahoo.com.
BMC Infectious Diseases
|August 17, 2016
Summary
Pediatric cervicofacial actinomycosis, a rare infection, often mimics cancer. Early diagnosis and histopathology are key for good prognosis in this challenging condition.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Paediatric cervicofacial actinomycosis is a rare condition caused by Actinomyces species.
- It typically manifests as chronic, suppurative, granulomatous inflammation.
- The condition often mimics malignant tumors, posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A case of an 11-year-old African female with a 9-month history of a disfiguring cervical mass is presented.
- The patient underwent several unsuccessful consultations prior to diagnosis.
- Clinical and para-clinical evaluations were crucial for identifying Actinomyces infection.
Findings:
- Actinomycosis remains a diagnostic challenge for clinicians.
- It is essential to consider this rare infection in cases of masses with malignant appearance.
- Lesions unresponsive to multiple antimicrobial treatments warrant further investigation for actinomycosis.
Implications:
- Early recognition and diagnosis of cervicofacial actinomycosis are vital.
- Histopathological examination is the gold standard for diagnosis.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment lead to a generally favorable prognosis.
