Actinomycosis of the paranasal sinus

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of actinomycosis of the paranasal sinus. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The medical records of six patients with actinomycosis of the paranasal sinus between 1998 and 2006 were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no immunocompromised patients and all lesions were unilateral. Only one patient had a history of an oroantral fistula due to facial trauma. On CT scan, all patients had unilateral opacification of the maxillary sinus with focal calcified densities. All cases underwent endoscopic sinus surgery followed by relatively short-term antibiotic administration, and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic unilateral maxillary sinusitis, a calcified density in the involved sinus on radiological studies, and unresponsiveness to antibiotics are characteristics of actinomycotic sinusitis. Surgical removal of the involved tissues and the restoration of sinus ventilation seem to be important factors for treating the disease.