Two cases of mandibular osteomyelitis caused by Actinomyces

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a infectious disease that is characterized by chronic granulomatous and suppurative lesions often caused by Actinomyces israelii. Nowadays, the diagnosis may be difficult because the number of patients with typical symptoms has decreased, and there is a low success rate in culturing the microorganism. In this paper, two cases of osteomyelitis of the mandible caused by infection with Actinomyces are reported. Radiography and CT of these cases revealed bone destruction, and Gram stain of direct smears of pus obtained by extraoral incision showed Gram-positive bacteria with branching filaments.