Authors
Hansen T, Kunkel M, Springer E, et al.
Institution
Institute of Pathology, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101, Mainz, Germany. hansen@pathologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Source
Virchows Arch 2007 Dec; 451(6)
:1009-17.Abstract
Actinomycosis of the jaws is a rare disease, which has been recently described in patients with infected osteoradionecrosis (IORN) and bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis (BON). We investigated our archive material for Actinomycosis of the jaws with special regard to underlying disease. Out of a total number of 45 patients with Actinomycosis, 43 (93.5%) suffered from BON (58.7%) or IORN (35.6%), while there were only 3 patients (6.7%) without anti-tumor treatment. In all cases, we found direct association of Actinomyces colonies with bone; in the surrounding medullary space, mixed inflammatory infiltrates with variable amounts of osteoclasts were a typical finding. Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia occurred in 60.9% of patients. Cell-rich vessel obliteration was seen in less than 25.9% of BON patients, while hyalinized vessel obliteration was obtained in 37.5% of IORN patients. Additionally performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on paraffin-embedded and ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA)-decalcified tissue specimens confirmed the presence of Actinomyces israelii in seven of seven cases analyzed. We conclude that Actinomycosis of the jaws is a particular complication in patients with BON and/or IORN. Patients with Actinomycosis of the jaws during or after these forms of anti-cancer therapy are suggested to represent a distinct patient cohort with a relevant impairment of their general condition.
Mesh
ActinomycesActinomycosisAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBone Density Conservation AgentsBone Diseases, InfectiousDNA, BacterialDiphosphonatesFemaleHumansJawMaleMiddle AgedOsteonecrosisOsteoradionecrosisTreatment OutcomeLanguage
eng
Pub Type(s)
Journal Article
PubMed ID
17952459
