Concomitant squamous cell carcinoma and actinomycosis—An unique and rare occurrence

Abstract

: Actinomycosis of the oral cavity is not common, though actinomyces species often occur as normal commensals in the oral cavity. They gain entry into deep tissue to cause infection and consequent tissue damage whenever there is damage to the oral mucosa by injury or infection or neoplastic process. The case being discussed here is of a male, aged 62 years, who presented with an ulcero-proliferative lesion over left buccal mucosa. A punch biopsy was carried out on the lesion. Histopathology laboratory received three gray-white tissue pieces. Histological examination of the tissue pieces revealed features of moderately to poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Few colonies of radiating filamentous structures reminiscent of colonies of actinomyces species were noted. The sections were further stained with relevant stains for filamentous bacteria such as Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain which confirmed the colonies of Actinomyces spp. The case being submitted here is an unique and relatively rare finding of concomitant squamous cell carcinoma and oral actinomycosis with only few cases being reported in publish English medical literature.