A rare case of actinomycosis in routine fnac of the face in a tertiary care center in Central India

Abstract

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative bacterial infection. It is caused by gram-positive, non-acid fast, filamentous, anaerobic to microaerophilic bacilli. Actinomycosis on the root of the nose is a rare entity. We report a case of 38 years old male who presented with swelling over the root of the nose since birth. Mucoid material was aspirated. Microscopic examination reveals a filamentous structured colony and crystal against the granular proteinaceous background. Features suggest benign cystic lesion and secondary actinomycosis infection, negative with an acid-fast bacilli stain consistent with Actinomyces species. As stated in most of the literature, mainly males are affected by this condition. Very little information is available on the use of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to diagnose these lesions. We are reporting a case of an actinomycotic lesion that was reliably diagnosed with FNAC. So, we emphasized here that FNAC is aninexpensive, rapid, and simple outpatient procedure that helps in the rapid diagnosis of Actinomycosis.