• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.225-227
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• 2010

Actinomycosis is an unusual granulomatous infection caused by gram-positive anaerobic bacteria called Actinomyces species(predominantly Actinomyces israelii), which is a common and normally nonpathogenic organism found in the nose and throat. The three major clinical presentations of actinomycosis include the cervico-facial(the most common, 55%), thoracic, and abdominopelvic region. Actinomycosis typically has a chronic, indolent course characterized by swelling and induration of the soft tissues and eventual spontaneous drainage through multiple sinus tracts. Actinomycosis is difficult to diagnose because of variable presentation mimicking neoplasm and fastidious nature of the organism in culture. We present a case of actinomycosis in the parotid tip area which was mistaken for a salivary tumor.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 1984

These two pulmonary actinomycosis cases had undergone right upper lobectomy and left lower lobectomy individually under the diagnosis of lung cancer and lung abscess. Recently pulmonary actinomycosis is very rare by the widespread use of antibiotics. In addition to clinical similarity to lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis, lack of suspicion and difficulty in obtaining adequate culture material also hamper the precise preoperative diagnosis. The purpose of this report is to review of our experiences and to enhance consideration of pulmonary actinomycosis.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2015

Actinomycosis is a subacute or chronic suppurative infection caused by Actinomyces species, which are anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria that normally colonize the human mouth and digestive and urogenital tracts. Cervicofacial actinomycosis is the most frequent clinical form of actinomycosis, and is associated with odontogenic infection. Characterized by an abscess and mandibular involvement with or without fistula, but the cervicofacial form of actinomycosis is often misdiagnosed because the presentation is not specific and because it can mimic numerous infectious and non-infectious diseases, including malignant tumors. We report a rare case of actinomycosis infection with coexisting submandibular sialolithiasis. The patient presented with a $1{\times}1cm$ abscess-like lesion below the lower lip. Punch biopsy of the lesion revealed atypical squamous cell proliferation with infiltrative growth, suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent wide excision of this lesion, where the lesion was found to be an abscess formation with multiple submandibular sialolithiases. The surgical specimen was found to contain Actinomyces without any evidence of a malignant process. We assumed that associated predisposing factors such as poor oral hygiene may have caused a dehydrated condition of the oral cavity, leading to coexistence of actinomycosis and sialolithiasis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 1975

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative granulomatous disease due to Actinomyces israelii characterized by multiple abscess and sinus tract formation with dense fibrous scarring. This disease, especially thoracic infection, is very rare in Korea so we are not famiIliar with to make diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise the unspecificity of the clinical symptoms and the lack of adequate examination recedure (as anaerobic fungus culture) are the causes of misdiagnosis. Thoracic actinomycosis is very similar to chronic infectious disease of the lung and chest or thoracic neoplasm. Recently we experienced a case of thoracic actinomycosis (bronchopulmonary) which had been confused with chronic lung abscess and pathologically confirmed as broncho-pulmonary actinomycosis. The purpose of this report is to review our experience more thorouly to enhance consideration of Artinomycosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.419-422
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• 1995

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a chronic pulmonary infection characterized by suppuration, abscess formation, and dense scarring. The causative agent, Actinomyces israelii, is a gram-positive, microaerophilic bacterium that resemble fungi. We recently treated two cases of pulmonary actinomycosis. A patient was underwent right lower lobectomy under the impression of bronchiectasis. Pulmonary actinomycosis was diagnosed of postoperatively. He was medicated with high-dose penicillin parenterally. The other patient was also undergone right lower lobectomy under the impression of broncholithiasis and received parenteral penicillin and oral roxythromycin. There was no recurrence or development of empyema. The purpose of this paper is to review of our experience and to enhance consideration of pulmonary actinomycosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 1992

A pulmonary actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative disease which leads to abscess formation and fibrosis it was caused by aspiration of contaminated material from to mouth or oropharynx. Recently pulmonary actinomycosis is very rare by widespread use of antibiotics. Clinically, patients with pulmonary actinomycosis initially experience nonproductive coughing and low grade fever, but pulmonary complaints can be minimal. We report a case of pulmonary actinomycosis associated with hemoptysis which was confirmed by lobectomy with a review of literature.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2008

Actinomyces is a part of the normal oral flora, but under certain circumstances it may become pathogenic. Actinomycosis is a chronic granulomatous infective disease caused by microaerophilic Gram-positive bacteria of the genus actinomyces. It can involve almost any system, but principally affects the head and neck. Because the lesions in the submandibular region and the angle of the jaw give the face a swollen, indurated appearance, actinomycosis of mandible can be easily misdiagnosed in its acute or early state of infection. In these cases the disease usually presented as a swelling suggestive of an abscess or mimicking a neoplasm. The yield from standard cultures was poor and repeated sampling and anaerobic culture may be needed to obtain a positive culture. So actinomycosis should always be considered in a differential diagnosis of all infections of the cervicofacial area. Diagnosis of actinomycosis is made based on the histopathology, the clinical presentation and past dental history. We experienced a case of actinomycosis in the masseter muscle and present the case with review of literature.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.256-260
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• 2012

Purpose: Actinomycosis is an uncommon chronic granulomatous disease that presents as a slowly progressive, indolent, indurated infiltration with multiple abscesses, fistulas, and sinuses. The purpose of this article is to report on a case of actinomycosis with clinical findings similar to periodontitis. Methods: A 46-year-old female presented with recurrent throbbing pain on the right first and second molar of the mandible three weeks after root planing. Exploratory flap surgery was performed, and the bluish-gray tissue fragment found in the interproximal area between the two molars was sent for histopathology. Results: The diagnosis from the biopsy was actinomycosis. The clinical and radiographic manifestations of this case were clinically indistinguishable from periodontitis. The patient did not report any symptoms, and she is scheduled for a follow-up visit. Conclusions: The present study has identified periodontitis-mimicking actinomycosis. Actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis in cases with periodontal pain and inflammation that do not respond to nonsurgical treatment for periodontitis. More routine submissions of tissue removed from the oral cavity for biopsies may be beneficial for differential diagnosis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.231-237
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• 1991

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative and granulomatous bacterial infection characterized by contiguous spread, abcess formation and sinus tract formation. There are four clinical forms according to the lesional site, as 1) cervicofacial, 2) thoracic, 3) abdominal, and 4) disseminated form. Recently, we experienced a case of 54 year-old patient with left mandibular actinomycosis. The pathognomonic findings of actinomycosis is sulfur granule with multiple filaments in Gram-stain and the treatment of actinomycosis is surgical excision of mass or sinus tract with massive antibiotics(esp. Penicillin) therapy for 6 to 12 months.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.289-292
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• 2006

Thoracic spinal actinomycosis causing epidural abscess and significant spinal cord compression is very rare. A case is presented of a 56-year-old woman with rapid progressive upper back pain and weakness in both legs without evidence of systemic infection. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracic epidural enhancing lesion at the T1-T5 level. After decompression by laminectomy, precise diagnosis was accomplished using specific histopathological studies of the surgical specimens. A histopathologic findings showing typical Actinomyces sulfur granules surrounded by acute inflammatory cells. The clinical radiological findings of spinal actinomycosis closely resemble metastatic tumors and other infectious processes. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can significantly worsen the condition of patient.