Subcutaneous temporal abscess as a clinical manifestation of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in a patient with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease)

Abstract

This is the report of a rare case of a temporal abscess that developed in the presence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in a patient with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Little has been described about abscesses occurring in soft tissues in patients with HHT in previous reports. In the case of a subcutaneous abscess of unknown primary in the head and neck region in patients with HHT, the clinician needs to consider septic microemboli due to pulmonary arteriovenous malformations as a possible cause. The classic dermal manifestation of HHT should be enlarged to include subcutaneous abscess secondary to metastatic septic microembolism.