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Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma.


Pézier, Thomas F; Kastrinidis, Nikos; Widmer, Gian-Marco; Huber, Gerhard F; Probst, Rudolf (2014). Fatally invasive actinomycosis masquerading as a tonsillar carcinoma. Head and Neck, 36(12):E129-30.

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. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: E129-E130, 2014.

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. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: E129-E130, 2014.

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Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:04 Faculty of Medicine > University Hospital Zurich > Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology
Dewey Decimal Classification:610 Medicine & health
Uncontrolled Keywords:Otorhinolaryngology
Language:English
Date:December 2014
Deposited On:09 Dec 2014 15:57
Last Modified:18 Aug 2018 18:17
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
ISSN:1043-3074
OA Status:Closed
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.23659
PubMed ID:24596066

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