INTRODUCTION
Facial dimple creation surgery is a simple procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. Although it is simple to make a facial dimple, several complications can occur, including hematoma, infection, loss of the dimple, hyperpigmentation, and a granulomatous reaction [
1].
Actinomycosis is a rare chronic infectious disease caused by
Actinomyces. The disease is slow-spreading and induces granulomatous inflammation and the formation of multiple abscesses [
2].
Actinomyces species are anaerobic, Gram-positive, filamentous bacteria. They usually inhabit the human oral cavity or respiratory and digestive tracts. Some conditions causing
Actinomyces infection are trauma, oral surgery, tooth extraction, and poor dental hygiene. Because actinomycosis is not commonly encountered in the field of plastic surgery, it may be easily ignored. We report a case in which actinomycosis developed in a previously created facial dimple.
CASE REPORT
A 51-year-old woman presented with a palpable mass about 1 cm in size on her left cheek, which had gradually protruded into the buccal mucosal side over the preceding month. The patient had undergone facial dimple-creating surgery on both perioral areas at a local clinic 12 years previously. She had not experienced any complications postoperatively until she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and diabetes mellitus about 2 years previously. Since then, she took immunosuppressive disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including leflunomide and methotrexate. A physical examination demonstrated that the mass was located on the previously created dimple site (
Fig. 1). Ultrasonography confirmed that the mass was a heterogeneously hypoechoic cystic lesion approximately 0.7×0.7×0.9 cm in size (
Fig. 2). The mass was completely excised through an intraoral approach while the patient was under local anesthesia. The specimen was grossly described as a gray-yellow cystic mass containing non-absorbable suture material (#4-0 nylon suture) (
Fig. 3). There were no complications at the surgical site and the lesion did not recur during a 3-month follow-up period (
Fig. 4). A histologic examination showed dark-stained foci, known as sulfur granules, which are characteristic of
Actinomyces organisms. The filamentous nature of the
Actinomyces organisms was noted in these sulfur granules (
Fig. 5).
DISCUSSION
Facial dimples are an attractive component of the face, and the demand for dimple creation surgery has gradually increased. Dimples are thought to be caused by the insertion of fascial bands of the zygomaticus major muscle into the dermis or by a dermal tethering effect of the zygomaticus major muscle, which may be bifid [
3,
4]. Dimples, however, may also be acquired or observed after focal trauma to the face. Since Boo-Chai’s report of a technique for creating facial dimples in 1962, several authors have described various techniques of creating perioral dimples. Bao et al. [
5] reported a simple technique in which a syringe needle is used to connect the buccinator muscle to the dermis with non-absorbable suture materials. For long-term results, many surgeons prefer using non-absorbable suture materials, such as nylon or prolene. However, non-absorbable suture material can increase the possibility of a foreign body granuloma or an inclusion cyst. In addition, excessive tension at the suture site may induce a mucosal defect due to mucosal ischemia. Finally, this condition provides an invasive route to submucosal or subcutaneous tissue [
6].
In this case, the patient had not shown any complications following dimple creation surgery until she began taking immunosuppressive medicines for her rheumatoid arthritis. Because DMARDs target the immune system, they can weaken the immune system’s ability to fight infections. Actinomycosis developed after the patient had been taking immunosuppressive medications for 2 years.
Actinomycosis is a chronic infectious disease that is characterized by anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria that inhabit the oral cavity. The microbe causes the infection by entering into the submucosal or deeper tissues through a mucosal defect caused by trauma, dental caries, or manipulation [
7-
9]. Although actinomycosis is not thought to be an opportunistic infection, it has most commonly been reported in immunocompromised patients, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, or RA [
10,
11]. Kolm et al. [
12] reported a case of cervicofacial actinomycosis that occurred in an 86-year-old woman with RA undergoing immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and prednisone. Untreated, actinomycosis can induce excessive scarring, abscess formation, multiple skin sinuses, infiltration of adjacent tissue, and cervicofacial actinomycosis [
6]. Some cases of oral actinomycosis following dimple creation surgery have been reported, but no reports have accurately presented its incidence worldwide. Saraf and Pillutia [
13] reported the case of a patient who developed bilateral cheek abscesses 1 month following dimple creation surgery. Under general anesthesia, the cheek abscesses were drained by an intraoral approach, and the patient recovered in 3 weeks, but with a severe cheek scar.
When a mucosal actinomycotic sinus or route following dimple creation surgery is confirmed, early treatment with surgery and oral antibiotics is recommended. Recently, Kouketsu et al. [
14] have recommended through irrigation with the antibiotic solution amoxicillin (3×0.5 g/day) and long-term antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin for 2 months. It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent additional complications. Postoperative management should be performed strictly in patients with poor oral hygiene and dental caries, and especially in patients taking immunosuppressive medicine. Additionally, patients who have undergone surgical procedures with indwelling non-absorbable suture materials, especially sling operations using non-absorbable suture materials, are predisposed to actinomycosis. Surgeons should thus be aware of the possibility of actinomycosis when they encounter a mass that has developed in an area adjacent to non-absorbable suture materials.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
Notes
PATIENT CONSENT
Patients provided written consent for the use of their images.
Fig. 1.
Preoperative view showing the 1-cm protruding mass on the created left dimple.
Fig. 2.
Facial sonography showing an ill-defined, heterogeneously hypoechoic cystic lesion measuring 0.7 × 0.7 × 0.9 cm.
Fig. 3.
A yellow, firm nodule with a nylon suture (white arrow) was observed on gross examination.
Fig. 4.
Three-month postoperative view showing no recurrence of actinomycosis.
Fig. 5.
The filamentous nature of the Actinomyces organisms in the sulfur granule (black arrows) was noted (hematoxylin and eosin stain [H&E], ×200).
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