A case of actinomycosis of the middle ear and a review of the literature

Actinomycosis is a granulomatous and suppurative infection which is principally located in the cervicofacial region, and is due to an actinomyces bacillus. Fewer than 30 cases of location in the tympanic cavity and mastoid are described in the English literature. Diagnosis is made difficult because of the non-specific nature of the clinical signs and the difficulty in culturing the germ. Usually, the histologic analysis of the middle ear mucus helps the diagnosis. A combination of surgery and medical treatment consisting of mastoidectomy and penicillin-based antibiotherapy for 3–6 months are used.