Actinomycosis of the Nasal Septum: A Rare Entity

Actinomycosis is a rare bacterial infection that can affect almost any site in the body. Its occurrence at the nasal septum is extremely rare. We present the case of an 84-year-old diabetic woman, with a past medical history of breast cancer that came to medical attention because of progressive nasal obstruction and severe sleep apnea. Nasal endoscopy revealed a submucosal mass at the anterior nasal septum obstructing both nasal cavities and extending to the anterior hard palate. With a cancer metastasis in mind, she was submitted to surgical resection of the lesion through a Rouge-Denker approach, with the final histologic diagnosis of actinomycosis. She was then treated with a three-month cycle of amoxicillin and remains without recurrence. This case describes a rare disease that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sinonasal lesions, especially in diabetic patients and after dental procedures.