Cutaneous actinomycosis explained

Specialty:	Dermatology

Cutaneous actinomycosis is a chronic disease that affects the deep subcutaneous tissue of the skin. Caused by an anaerobic, Gram-positive, filamentous type of bacteria in the genus Actinomyces,^[1] invasion of the soft tissue leads to the formation of abnormal channels leading to the skin surface (external sinus tracts) that discharge pale yellow sulfur granules.^[2]

This disease is uncommon, and has non-specific clinical features, making it difficult to diagnose.^[3]

Cervicofacial, pulmonary/thoracic and gastrointestinal forms exist, yet cervicofacial disease accounts for two-thirds of reported infections.^[4]

See also

• Skin lesion

Notes and References

1. Book: James, William D. . Berger, Timothy G.. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology . Saunders Elsevier . 2006 . 0-7216-2921-0 . etal.
2. Patil D, Siddaramappa B, Manjunathswamy BS, Pandit AM, Dastikop S, Fernandes C, Kutre S, Angolkar M . Primary cutaneous actinomycosis . International Journal of Dermatology . 47 . 12 . 1271–3 . 2008 . 19126014 . 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2008.03854.x . 205395085 .
3. Roy D, Roy PG, Misra PK . An interesting case of primary cutaneous actinomycosis . Dermatology Online Journal . 9 . 5 . 17 . 2003 . 14996390 .
4. Book: Rapini, Ronald P. . Bolognia, Jean L. . Jorizzo, Joseph L. . Dermatology: 2-Volume Set . Mosby . St. Louis . 2007 . 1103–4 . 978-1-4160-2999-1 .