ACTINOMYCOSIS OTO-MASTOIDITIS

Actinomycosis of the temporal bone is uncommon. There have only been 2 4 cases previously reported in the English literature. The responsible organism is Actinomyces israelii, an anaerobic filamentous Gram posit ive bacterium. While the cervico-facial region is the most common site of the disease, involvement of the temporal bone is rare. The diagnos is can sometimes be made clinically by identification of sulphur granu les in a glue-like substrate but in all cases involving the temporal b one, the diagnosis has been made at histopathology. Effective therapy consists of surgery followed by the long-term administration of penici llin.