Actinomycosis of the temporal bone with labyrinthine and facial nerve involvement.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of actinomycosis of the temporal bone.


METHODS
Case report and literature review.


METHODS
Analysis of a case through medical records and literature review.


RESULTS
Actinomycosis is a rare cause of subacute-chronic suppurative infection of the temporal bone. We present an 11-year-old male with a history of ciliary dyskinesia presenting with a 6-week history of right-sided otorrhea, otalgia, and a 1-week history of progressive facial weakness. Final histopathology revealed a diagnosis of actinomycosis. A review of the literature showed 25 cases of temporal bone actinomycosis. This is the first reported case of actinomycosis causing facial nerve palsy and labyrinthine invasion. Effective treatment includes aggressive surgical debridement followed by long-term administration of appropriate antibiotic.


CONCLUSIONS
Actinomycosis can be a cause for bone erosive lesions of the temporal bone and can result in significant morbidities. Prompt tissue diagnosis with suspicion for nonmalignant causes of bone erosive disease can help in implementing appropriate treatment.
Mehta
Deepak
D
Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. deepakmehta71@yahoo.com
Statham
Melissa
M
Choo
Daniel
D
D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000382:microbiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed