A case of osteomyelitis of the maxilla caused by actinomycosis

Approximately 60% of all actinomycotic infections occur in the cervicofacial area. The submandibular region is the most frequent site, and actinomycosis of bone is rare. We report a rare case of actinomycosis arising in the maxilla.The patient was a 51-year-old woman who presented with a diffuse swelling and purulent fistulas in the left maxillary molar region. Radiography revealed an irregular radiopaque mass surrounded by a radiolucent area in the left maxillary molar region. The left maxillary sinus was cloudy. Computed tomography showed hone destruction appearing to be a sequestrum in the left maxillary molar region with severe mucosal thickening of the left maxillary sinus.The clinical diagnosis was chronic osteomyelitis of the maxilla with spontaneous sequestration and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The sequestrum was removed, and radical antrum operation was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The histopathological diagnosis was actinomycosis with a sequestrum.