Infratemporal fossa abscess: a diagnostic dilemma

• Published in: Ear, nose, & throat journal Vol. 88; no. 5; p. E23
• Main Authors: Kamath, M Panduranga, Bhojwani, Kiran M, Mahale, Ajit, Meyyappan, Hari, Abhijit, Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2009
• Subjects: Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Abscess - etiology; Abscess - surgery; Bone Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Bone Diseases - etiology; Bone Diseases - surgery; Diagnosis, Differential; Drainage - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Temporal Bone - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tooth Extraction - adverse effects; Trismus - diagnosis; Trismus - etiology

An abscess in the infratemporal fossa is a rare complication of dental extraction. Although it is a recognized entity, only a handful of cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a case of abscess in the infratemporal fossa of a 55-year-old woman with noninsulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes who presented with left-sided facial pain and marked trismus. The abscess was managed successfully with external drainage. We have made an attempt to comprehensively review the literature on this rare condition, with special emphasis on its anatomic complexity and varied clinical presentation, and we provide a detailed discussion of the diagnosis and management of this condition.