Actinomycosis of the nasal cavity

INTRODUCTION: Actinomycosis of the nasal cavity is very rare. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features, treatment methods, and treatment results of actinomycosis of the nasal cavity in our hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 11 patients with histopathologically identified actinomycosis of the nasal cavity from January 2010 to May 2020. RESULTS: This study included five males and six females. The most common symptom was purulent nasal discharge (36.4%). Nasal actinomycosis occurred in the maxillary sinus in 5 (45.5%) patients, the ethmoid sinus in two, the hard palate in two, the frontal sinus in one, and the nasal septum in one. After surgery, intravenous administration of antibiotics was performed on average for 7.4 days and oral antibiotics were prescribed for about 120.5 days. The clinical characteristics of the patients with nasal actinomycosis and the duration of antibiotic usage were not significantly different. Trauma was significantly associated with repeated nasal actinomycosis infections (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Actinomycosis of the nasal cavity should be suspected when a patient with chronic sinusitis does not respond to medical therapy and has a history of dental treatment, local surgery or radiation therapy. Nasal can be sufficiently treated with antibiotics and endoscopic surgery.