Actinomycosis mimicking a tonsillar neoplasm in an elderly diabetic patient

Actinomycosis is a slowly progressive infection that Call Occur anywhere in the body. Three distinct clinical entities are described: cervicofacial, abdomino-pelvic and thoracopulmonary. Actinomyces are anaerobic, grain positive, non-acid-fast, branched filamentous bacteria that form part of the normal oral, colonic and vaginal flora of humans. The cervico-facial form of the disease is commonest and results from direct invasion of commensal oral actinomyces into local tissues. The most frequently isolated species is A. israelii. We describe a case where Actinomycosis caused massive unilateral hypertrophy of the tonsil, mimicking neoplasia. This is all unusual presentation of Actinomycosis. (c) 2008 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.