A rare case presentation of oral actinomycosis

Actinomycosis is an infectious disease caused by a gram-positive anaerobic or microaero-philic Actinomyces species that causes both chronic suppurative and granulomatous inflammation. The following study reports a 48-year-old Iranian woman presenting with a spontaneous discharging sinus on the hard palate for 8 months. The patient has no past medical history of note. Laboratory findings were unremarkable. The diagnosis was based on history and clinical evidence of the lesion confirmed by histopathological examination. The patient was treated with a regimen of oral ampicillin 500 mg four times a day. She had a marked response to the treatment after 4 weeks, and it was planned to continue the treatment for at least 6 months with regular follow-up. To the best of the researchers' knowledge, this is the first report of actinomycotic sinus tract of the hard palate in Iran. (C) 2013 Asian-African Society for Mycobacteriology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.