Abstract
Actinomycosis is a specific inflammatory disease involving mixed infection that chiefly shows trismus, board-like swelling, and multiple abscess; however, it has recently become difficult to diagnose actinomycosis bacteriologically and rare for patients to show typical symptoms because of the frequent use of antibiotics. We report a case of maxillary sequestration involving Actinomyces infection after loss of a tooth.
The patient, a 54-year-old man, visited our hospital because of continuous oozing, swelling, and pain in the maxillary gingiva persisting for 9 months after loss of the right maxillary second premolar. X-ray examination revealed a radiopaque image with an irregular margin in the alveolar bone. The hard tissue in the socket removed surgically for a tentative diagnosis of the maxillary osteomyelitis was diagnosed histologically as maxillary sequestration with Actinomyces infection. Symptoms such as exudates, swelling, and pain in the maxillary gingiva resolved completely after surgery. Currently, 3 years after surgery, the patient has made favorable progress.
