Brain Actinomycosis:

Report of one case

Jorge L. Rivera-Rodriguez, MD,

Eugenia Zurita,CNS.
Hospital General de Acapulco SSA
México
 Introduction

Actinomycosis is an infection primarily

caused by the bacterium Actinomyces
israelii.
Actinomycosis located in the central nervous
system is an extremely uncommon event.
It may affect immunocompetent or
immunodefficient subjects.
It is commonly misdiagnosed in routine
imaging studies
 Medical History
Female, 32 y.o. Previously healthy. Recent
onset of right extremities partial motor
epilepsy.
A Brain scan showed: left parietal 2 cm solid
mass, IV contrast inhancing, important
periferic oedema.
Negative Chest Xray
No neck masses.
Preoperative Scan
Differential Diagnosis

Primary tumor.
Brain Abscess.
Granuloma.
A parietal craniotomy and total resection of
the lesion was performed.

Hystopathological report:
Brain Actinomycosis
Postoperative Brain Scan
No additional
antimycrobial therapy
was given.
Total neurological
recovery.
Clean long term
scanning.
Seizure free without
antiepileptic drugs at
present.
 Conclusions
Brain Actinomycosis is a rare entity and
should be considered in any brain mass
differential diagnosis.

Total surgical removal without long term

antimycrobial therapy seems to be
effective, but more studies should be
performed.
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