Meningitis and subdural empyema as complication of pterygomandibular space abscess upon tooth extraction.

P Cariati,F Monsalve-Iglesias,M Roman-Ramos,B Garcia-Medina,A Cabello-Serrano

doi:10.4317/jced.52916

Abstract

Complication of dental infections might be various and heterogeneous. The most common complications are represented by maxilar celulitis, canine space celulitis, infratemporal space celulitis, temporal celulitis and bacteremia. Among rarest complications we found: sepsis, bacterial endocarditis, mediastinitis, intracranial complications, osteomyelitis, etc. Although dental infections are often considered trivial entities, sometimes they can reach an impressive gravity. In this regard, the present study describes a case of dental infection complicated by meningitis, subdural empiema and cerebral vasculitis. Furthermore, we observed other neurological complications, like thalamic ischemic infarction, during the disease evolution. Noteworthy, these entities were not presented when the patient was admitted to hospital. Therefore, the main aim of this report is to highlight the serious consequences that an infection of dental origin could cause. Key words:Meningitis, subdural empyema, odontogenic infections.

Highlights

Odontogenic infections rarely spread intracranially to cause complications such as thrombosis of the cavernous sinus, abscess, or meningitis
Many authors described intracranial and neurological complications caused by dental infections
As complication of meningitis the patient developed a cerebral vasculitis and a thalamic ischemic infarction was evidenced by new MRI

Summary

Introduction

Introduction Odontogenic infections rarely spread intracranially to cause complications such as thrombosis of the cavernous sinus, abscess, or meningitis. The literature reports a case of chronic meningitis in a patient with multiple oral infectious foci (1). Literature shows a case of cerebral abscess, of odontogenic origin, in a 46 years old man (2). Many authors described intracranial and neurological complications caused by dental infections.

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Results

Conclusion