CERVICOFACIAL ACTINOMYCOSIS - A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE

Actinomycosis was first described as a clinical entity over 100 years ago. However, the fundamental characteristics of this entity have not been fully discussed, and major questions remain unanswered, such as t he highly diversified pathogenicity of the phenomenon according to num erous published case reports and clarification of solid diagnostic cri teria. Even the frequency of cervicofacial actinomycosis occurrence is unclear; some authors consider it to be rare and others to be common. We present 11 cases examined and treated in our department within the last 14 years along with a review of the literature. Diagnostic probl ems are emphasized, and a comprehensive overview of the entity is sugg ested.