A Case of Actinomycosis of the Inguinal Area / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection characterized by suppurative, fibrosing inflammation, and sinus tracts draining sulfur granules. It usually involves the head, neck, thorax and abdomen. Actinomycosis involving the inguinal area is extremely rare. A 55-year-old man presented with an asymptomatic, erythematous, hard, nontender nodule in his left inguinal area. A biopsy taken from the nodule showed an abscess and sulfur granules in the dermis. Gram staining and methenamine silver staining demonstrated a mesh of branching rods. Cultures of the pus and tissue specimens failed to grow any organisms. Based on the histopathologic findings, we diagnosed this case as actinomycosis of the inguinal area and treated it with a surgical method.