Actinomicosis lingual asociada a trauma por implante de hoja que simula un carcinoma: reporte de caso

Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection that mainly affects the cervicofacial region; lingual involvement is uncommon and may mimic a malignant neoplasm. The objective was to describe a case of lingual actinomycosis associated with a blade implant. A 78-year-old man, a smoker of 30 pack-years who had carried a left mandibular blade implant for 15 years, presented with an indurated 1 × 1 cm nodular mass with two areas of ulceration on the left lateral border of the tongue, of four weeks' duration. Due to suspicion of squamous cell carcinoma, an incisional biopsy was performed, which showed filamentous bacterial colonies compatible with Actinomyces, without cellular atypia. Treatment with oral penicillin V for three weeks and removal of the implant achieved complete remission at 30 days. Actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of ulcerated lingual masses.