A rare presentation of actinomycosis: case report

Anaerobic, nonsporulating, Gram-positive bacteria groups called actinomyces organisms are responsible for the so called actinomycosis. This chronic disease is rare in children and has tendency to mimic many other diseases. It also has wide variety of manifestations and non-specific symptoms. As a result, it is difficult to diagnose before the biopsy and microscopic examination. Although infection may involve any organ in the body, the significant sites of actinomyces infection include cervicofacial, abdominal, pelvic and pulmonary tissues.

Here, we describe one case of unusual presentation; an 11-year-old girl with a soft tissue mass in the left lower lateral chest wall which was finally diagnosed actinomycosis based on the pathological findings.

Actinomycosis may rarely present with chest wall mass.