Actinomycosis of tongue as pseudotumor.

Abstract

AbstractActinomycosis or ray fungus was first described in 1877 by Bollinger, and in 1885, its pathogenesis in humans was reported by Israel.The organism causing this disease is mycelium forming and living in the soil or plant.Human infection may start from endogenous infection. These microorganisms can be isolated from the mouth, tonsil and GI tract, and the anaerobic type which is responsible for human infection lives in the mouth. Sixty percent of actinomycotic infection appears in cervicofacial form, which starts as a very slow growing induration and in the later stage there is multiple sinus formations which drain a seropurulent discharge containing the characteristic sulphur granules.In the tongue actinomycosis in early stages may mimic malignancy. Two patients have been seen in our hospital with a small tumor located in the lateral border of the tongue, of about six weeks' duration. These masses were deeply seated in tongue tissue in the anterior two‐thirds; they were slightly painful and were adherent to the muscles.They were excised and appeared to be actinomycotic. Choice of treatment in actinomycotic infection, is a high dosage of penicillin.