| Autor: |
Montenegro Palacios JF; Specialization in Internal Medicine, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia.; Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente S.A., Cali 760046, Colombia.; Genetics, Physiology, and Metabolism Research Group (GEFIME), Ciencias de la Salud Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia., Correa Forero SV; Specialization in Internal Medicine, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia.; Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente S.A., Cali 760046, Colombia., Ordoñez Andrade GA; Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Technological University of Pereira, Pereira 3137300, Colombia., Posu Barco J; Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente S.A., Cali 760046, Colombia., Melo Burbano LA; Specialization in Internal Medicine, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia.; Department of Research and Education, Clínica de Occidente S.A., Cali 760046, Colombia.; Genetics, Physiology, and Metabolism Research Group (GEFIME), Ciencias de la Salud Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia., Liscano Y; Specialization in Internal Medicine, Department of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia.; Grupo de Investigación en Salud Integral (GISI), Departamento Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 5183000, Colombia. |
| Abstrakt: |
Actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease characterized by slowly progressive, chronic suppurative lesions, often mistaken for malignancies due to its ability to mimic them. It is caused by Actinomyces bacteria, which are part of the normal flora of the human oropharynx, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts. This case report describes a 51-year-old male with a history of mandibular rhabdomyosarcoma presenting with severe shoulder and hip pain, dysphagia, and headaches, initially suspected to be a cancer recurrence. However, after further investigation, including a PET-CT and tonsillectomy, the diagnosis of actinomycosis was confirmed through histopathological examination. The case highlights the diagnostic challenges of actinomycosis, especially in patients with complex clinical histories, emphasizing the importance of considering it as a differential diagnosis in similar presentations. The patient was treated with long-term antibiotic therapy, predominantly beta-lactams, demonstrating the necessity of a comprehensive diagnostic approach and the implications of a delayed diagnosis. This case underscores the critical need for high clinical suspicion and awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the potential for actinomycosis to mimic more common diseases, ensuring timely and accurate treatment. |
