Brain abscess caused by chronic invasive actinomycosis in the nasopharynx: A case report and literature review.

Medicine (Baltimore)

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Published: April 2018

AI Article Synopsis

  • Actinomycosis is a rare bacterial infection mainly affecting the cervicofacial area and can rarely involve the central nervous system, often stemming from the Actinomyces species found in normal bodily flora.
  • A case study of a 51-year-old woman showed the development of a brain abscess 15 months after initial treatment for noninvasive nasopharyngeal actinomycosis, indicating a recurrence as an invasive form.
  • Surgical drainage combined with long-term antibiotics led to the complete resolution of the brain abscess, highlighting the importance of recognizing actinomycosis in clinical settings and its potential to mimic malignancy.

Article Abstract

Rationale: Actinomycosis is a rare anaerobic, gram-positive bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces, which is part of the normal flora in the oral cavity and respiratory and female genitourinary tracts. The cervicofacial area is the most common site of involvement, and involvement of the central nervous system is rare.

Patient Concerns: We report a case involving a 51-year-old woman who developed an actinomycotic brain abscess 15 months after the treatment of noninvasive nasopharyngeal actinomycosis, which recurred as an invasive form.

Diagnoses: Histopathological examination of the surgical specimens revealed actinomycosis.

Interventions: The patient was treated by surgical drainage of the brain abscess and long-term antibiotic treatment.

Outcomes: Follow-up brain imaging performed 12 months after surgery showed complete resolution of the brain abscess, and there were no further signs or symptoms of infection.

Lessons: Physicians should be aware of the typical clinical presentations of cervicofacial actinomycosis. Moreover, they should know that actinomycosis may mimic the process of malignancy at various anatomical locations.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5916711PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000010406DOI Listing

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