J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2014 Aug;40(4):195-198. 10.5125/jkaoms.2014.40.4.195.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis caused by a dental infection: a case report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Science Research Institute, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. cancer7@yuhs.ac

Abstract

Cavernous sinus thrombosis not only presents with constitutional symptoms including fever, pain and swelling but also with specific findings such as proptosis, chemosis, periorbital swelling, and cranial nerve palsies. It is known to occur secondary to the spread of paranasal sinus infections in the nose, ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses. However, paranasal sinus infection of dental origin is rare. The following is a case of cavernous sinus thrombosis due to the spread of an abscess in the buccal and pterygomandibular spaces via buccal mucosal laceration.

Keyword

Cavernous sinus thrombosis; Cavernous sinus; Sepsis; Dental focal infection

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Cavernous Sinus
Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis*
Cranial Nerve Diseases
Exophthalmos
Fever
Focal Infection, Dental
Lacerations
Nose
Sepsis

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Computed tomography scans with contrast. A. Large lobulated abscess pocket formation in the left buccal and pterygomandibular space (arrows). B. Venous dilation of the left superior ophthamic vein (arrow).

  • Fig. 2 T1-weighted magnetic resonance image with gadolinium. A. Filling defect and bulging contour of the left cavernous sinus (arrow). B. Venous dilation of the left superior ophthalmic vein (arrow).


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