Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma

Thomas F Pézier; Nikos Kastrinidis; Gian-Marco Widmer; Gerhard F Huber; Rudolf Probst

doi:10.1002/hed.23659

Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma

Thomas F Pézier, Nikos Kastrinidis, Gian-Marco Widmer, Gerhard F Huber, Rudolf Probst

Dept of Surgical Oncology - head & neck

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Actinomyces is a bacterial rod found in the normal oral flora. It can gain entry to the submucosa via trivial wounds and ultimately lead to slow growing lesions which may mimic cancerous lesions.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We present the case of an elderly, immunosuppressed woman who presented with a herald bleed from a tonsillar lesion. Despite initial operative arrest of the hemorrhage, she died of a carotid blowout. At autopsy, no sign of cancer was found, but rather an invasive actinomycosis.

CONCLUSION: Although actinomycosis of the tonsil is well known and has even been described as mimicking tonsillar cancer, this is, to our knowledge, the first report of a carotid blowout secondary to actinomycosis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	E129-30
Journal	Head & neck
Volume	36
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.23659
Publication status	Published - Dec 2014

Keywords

Actinomycosis
Aged
Carotid Artery Diseases
Carotid Artery, External
Diagnosis, Differential
Fatal Outcome
Female
Humans
Tonsillar Neoplasms
Case Reports
Journal Article

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title = "Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Actinomyces is a bacterial rod found in the normal oral flora. It can gain entry to the submucosa via trivial wounds and ultimately lead to slow growing lesions which may mimic cancerous lesions.METHODS AND RESULTS: We present the case of an elderly, immunosuppressed woman who presented with a herald bleed from a tonsillar lesion. Despite initial operative arrest of the hemorrhage, she died of a carotid blowout. At autopsy, no sign of cancer was found, but rather an invasive actinomycosis.CONCLUSION: Although actinomycosis of the tonsil is well known and has even been described as mimicking tonsillar cancer, this is, to our knowledge, the first report of a carotid blowout secondary to actinomycosis.",

keywords = "Actinomycosis, Aged, Carotid Artery Diseases, Carotid Artery, External, Diagnosis, Differential, Fatal Outcome, Female, Humans, Tonsillar Neoplasms, Case Reports, Journal Article",

author = "P{\'e}zier, {Thomas F} and Nikos Kastrinidis and Gian-Marco Widmer and Huber, {Gerhard F} and Rudolf Probst",

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doi = "10.1002/hed.23659",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "E129--30",

journal = "Head & neck",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma

AU - Pézier, Thomas F

AU - Kastrinidis, Nikos

AU - Widmer, Gian-Marco

AU - Huber, Gerhard F

AU - Probst, Rudolf

PY - 2014/12

Y1 - 2014/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: Actinomyces is a bacterial rod found in the normal oral flora. It can gain entry to the submucosa via trivial wounds and ultimately lead to slow growing lesions which may mimic cancerous lesions.METHODS AND RESULTS: We present the case of an elderly, immunosuppressed woman who presented with a herald bleed from a tonsillar lesion. Despite initial operative arrest of the hemorrhage, she died of a carotid blowout. At autopsy, no sign of cancer was found, but rather an invasive actinomycosis.CONCLUSION: Although actinomycosis of the tonsil is well known and has even been described as mimicking tonsillar cancer, this is, to our knowledge, the first report of a carotid blowout secondary to actinomycosis.

AB - BACKGROUND: Actinomyces is a bacterial rod found in the normal oral flora. It can gain entry to the submucosa via trivial wounds and ultimately lead to slow growing lesions which may mimic cancerous lesions.METHODS AND RESULTS: We present the case of an elderly, immunosuppressed woman who presented with a herald bleed from a tonsillar lesion. Despite initial operative arrest of the hemorrhage, she died of a carotid blowout. At autopsy, no sign of cancer was found, but rather an invasive actinomycosis.CONCLUSION: Although actinomycosis of the tonsil is well known and has even been described as mimicking tonsillar cancer, this is, to our knowledge, the first report of a carotid blowout secondary to actinomycosis.

KW - Actinomycosis

KW - Aged

KW - Carotid Artery Diseases

KW - Carotid Artery, External

KW - Diagnosis, Differential

KW - Fatal Outcome

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Tonsillar Neoplasms

KW - Case Reports

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1002/hed.23659

DO - 10.1002/hed.23659

M3 - Article

C2 - 24596066

SN - 1043-3074

VL - 36

SP - E129-30

JO - Head & neck

JF - Head & neck

IS - 12

ER -

Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma

Abstract

Keywords

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