Actinomycosis of the tongue – a literature review

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a specific chronic inflammation caused by anaerobic or microaerophilic gram positive bacteria from the Actinomyces family. They form a natural part of the bacterial flora found in the mouth, digestive and respiratory tract. The bacteria mentioned above can cause actinomycosis after previous damage to the natural anatomical barrier, which is skin or mucous membrane. This inflammation occurs especially in states of reduced immunity. Actinomycosis occurs in three clinical forms: cervico-facial, pulmonary or pulmono-thoracic and abdomino-pelvic. Actinomycosis of the tongue is a rare form of infection. To date, incidental occurrence of actinomycosis at this location has been reported in the literature. In the available literature we have found 21 cases of actinomycosis described so far. The authors present their own effective diagnostics and treatment of actinomycosis and review the literature on this topic.

Keywords

• actinomycosis of the tongue
• actinomycosis in a child
• cervicofacial actinomycosis.