Cutaneous actinomycosis: the great mimicker
- 1Kulliyah OF Medicine, International Islamic University, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
- 2Kulliyah OF Medicine, International Islamic University, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
- Harris Ngow Abdullah, Clinical Specialist and Lecturer, Kulliyah OF Medicine, International Islamic University, PO Box 141, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia; harrisngow{at}gmail.com
- Accepted 11 March 2009
Actinomycosis is an indolent, suppurative and chronic granulomatous infection caused by a Gram-positive organism that was initially thought to be a fungus.1 2 Actinomycosis is rare with estimated incidence of one case per institution per year, with male predominance.3 Precipitating factors of cervicofacial infection are related to dental and maxillofacial trauma. We describe an interesting case of facial actinomycosis that was misdiagnosed as sebaceous cyst and revealed later by histopathological findings of the tissue biopsy.
A 19-year-old healthy adolescent presented with a swelling on the chin that intermittently inflamed with pus discharge for 4 years. There …
