Abstract
Actinomycosis is a chronic purulent granulomatous disease caused by the Actinomyces genus. The age of onset is said to be relatively high after adolescence, but the disease is rare in the pediatric field. We have experienced two pediatric cases of mandibular actinomycosis, and report our findings here.
Case 1 was a 13-year-old female patient, who presented with a complaint of swelling of the left lower molar region. In the CT findings, osteosclerosis and bulging of the left mandibular ramus were observed. A small abscess appeared near the lower jaw angle, and actinomycetes were detected in the bacterial culture. Saucerization and decortication were performed under general anesthesia. Case 2 was a 6-year-old female patient, who presented with a complaint of a tumor-like lesion of the right buccal mucosa. In the MRI finding, a tumor with a signal intensity comparable to that of muscle was confirmed on the right buccal mucosa. Tumorectomy was performed under general anesthesia, and this case was diagnosed histopathologically as actinomycosis.
Our findings suggest that in pediatric cases of refractory osteomyelitis, treatment should be carried out not only by the usual examination methods but also by early bacterial and histopathological examinations.
