Incidence of actinomycosis in tonsillectomized patients: Histopathologic data for 115 cases and a rare localization of actinomycosis in tongue base [Tonsillektomize hastalarda aktinomikoz insidansi: 115 Olgunun histopatolojik bulgulari ve dil kökünde nadir bir aktinomikoz lokalizasyonu]

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the detection rate of histopathologically confirmed actinomycosis in tonsillectomized cases, during a 19-year period. A case with actinomycosis in a rare localization such as the tongue root is also reported and, in this case, our diagnosis and treatment approach is overviewed with the literature. Methods: 1047 patients who underwent tonsillectomy for various reasons between January 1990 and December 2009 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University were investigated retrospectively. The surgical materials of 115 (11%) cases with suspicious macroscopic appearance of tonsillar tissue, unilateral tonsillar hypertrophy and suspected malignancy on clinical examination were evaluated histopathologically. Results: In this study, 66 (57.4%) cases were male and 49 (42.6%) female. A chronic granulomatous process and colonies of actinomycetes were reported pathologically in 32 (27.8%) cases and a chronic inflammatory process in 83 (72.2%) cases. Conclusions: Despite the medical and economic burden, all surgical specimens obtained from cases who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy should be examined histopathologically as well as specimens from patients with suspected malignancy. We think that this clinical approach will contribute not only to make an early diagnosis and to determine the frequency of tonsillar cancers that are rarely seen in childhood, but also to determine the role of actinomycosis in the etiology of chronic tonsillitis and adenoid vegetation.