Laryngeal actinomycosis

Abstract

Actinomyces odontolyticus, a component of normal human flora, has been implicated in cervicofacial actinomycosis, which most commonly involves the perimandibular soft tissues and is characterized by slowly progressive abscess and sinus tract formation. Actinomycosis has rarely been reported to involve the larynx, and the imaging findings of laryngeal involvement have not been reported. We present a case of laryngeal actinomycosis with findings on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography.

Figure 1.

Axial contrast-enhanced CT scans of the neck in (a) soft tissue and (b) bone algorithms demonstrate low attenuation and inflammatory change in the cricoid region (arrow, a) with associated destruction of cricoid cartilage (arrow, b).

Figure 2.

MRI and PET images. (a) Coronal short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) image shows diffuse signal abnormality throughout the cricoid ring, more pronounced on the right (arrows). (b) Fat-saturated T1-weighted postcontrast image demonstrates peripheral enhancement, particularly involving the right posterior cricoid cartilage (arrow). (c) Maximal intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction from a PET scan demonstrates increased metabolic activity throughout the cricoid cartilage (arrows).