Two cases of cervicofacial actinomycosis

Abstract

　Actinomycosis is a inflammatory disease mainly caused by Actinomyces israelii. The cases have decreased with the development of antibiotics. However, even now, we sometimes come across it. Most of them are caused by dental diseases, and immune-compromised patients have a higher risk of developing actinomycosis. We experienced two patients with cervicofacial actinomycosis, who were taking immunosuppressants following kidney transplantation, and had dental diseases. Histopathological diagnosis was helpful for adefinitive diagnosis, and administration of high doses of AMPC for a long time was effective. Otolaryngologists should consider this unusual disease as a differential diagnosis for a cervicofacial abscess or tumor.