Search

Actinomycosis is a chronic, fibrotic infection caused by gram-positive bacteria that can mimic destructive processes such as malignancy or tuberculosis. Cervicofacial actinomycosis is the most common clinical form of actinomycosis and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of aggressive lesions of the nasopharynx. A case of actinomycosis of the nasopharynx extending to the skull base and resulting in occlusion of the internal carotid artery is presented. The presence of vascular occlusion by an infiltrative process, disproportionate bony destruction relative to the soft tissue involvement and lack of adenopathy should raise the suspicion of an inflammatory process as the etiology and not a tumor.