Actinomycosis of the post-cricoid space: an unusual cause of dysphagia

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is known to affect many soft tissues and bony s tructures in the head and neck. However to the authors' knowledge, actinomy cosis of the post-cricoid region has not been previously reported. A case o f a 74-year-old male who developed actinomycosis of the post-cricoid region after radiotherapy for a laryngeal carcinoma is presented. Actinomycosis s hould be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia following ra diotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, as early treatment is likely to result in a favourable outcome.