INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA INFECTION WITH INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE INVOLVEMENT

Abstract

Abscess of the infratemporal fossa is a rare complication which can be difficult to diagnose. It occurs mostly due to dental infection, tooth extraction, fractures and/or infections involving the maxillary sinus. This condition can be life threatening if not dealt with immediately. The maxillofacial surgeon must be aware of the symptoms and clinical findings of the infection of the infratemporal fossa in order to initiate the treatment as soon as possible. In this case report, a patient with an infratemporal fossa infection presenting with an unusual symptom of inferior alveolar nerve involvement is presented.

Keywords

• Infratemporal abscess,facial space infection; abscess; infratemporal space infection

References

1. Fonseca RJ. Oral and maxillofacial surgery, 1st ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders;2000: 237-239.
2. Langdon JD, Berkovitz BKB, Moxham BJ. Surgical Anatomy of the Infratemporal Fossa. London: Martin Dunitz;2003.
3. Miloro M, Ghali GE, Larsen PE, Waite PD. Peterson’s Principles of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 5th ed. Hamilton: BC Decker; 2008:318-324.
4. Chossegros C, Cheynet F, Conrath J. Infratemporal space infection after temporomandibular arthroscopy: An unusual complication. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1995;53(8):949-951.
5. Gallagher J, Marley J. Infratemporal and submasseteric infection following extraction of a non-infected maxillary third molar. Br Dent J 2003;194(6):307-309.
6. Raghava N, Evans K, Basu S. Infratemporal fossa abscess: Complication of maxillary sinusitis. J Laryngol Otol 2004;118(5):377-378.
7. Schwimmer AM, Roth SE, Morrison SN. The use of computerized tomography in the diagnosis and management of temporal and infratemporal space abscesses. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1988;66(1):17-20.
8. Weiss BR. Infratemporal fossa abscess unusual complication of maxillary sinus fracture. Laryngoscope 1977;87(7):1130-1133.

9. Akst LM, Albani BJ, Strome M. Subacute infratemporal fossa cellulitis with subsequent abscess formation in an immunocompromised patient. Am J Otolaryngol 2005;26(1):35-38.
10. Headley DB, Dolan KD. Infratemporal fossa abscess. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1991;100(6):516-517.
11. Mesgarzadeh AH, Ghavimi MA, Gok G, Zarghami A. Infratemporal space infection following maxillary third molar extraction in an uncontrolled diabetic patient. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects 2012;6(3):113-115.
12. Leventhal D, Schwartz DN. Infratemporal fossa abscess: Complication of dental injection. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008;134(5):551-553.
13. Nishizaki K, Ogawa T, Akagi H, Sato K, Masuda Y. Computed tomographic findings in two cases of cellulitis of the infratemporal fossa with abscess formation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1998;107(9 Pt 1):807-809.
14. Chong VF, Fan YF. Pictorial review: Radiology of the masticator space. Clin Radiol 1996;51(7):457-465.
15. Williams TP. Surgical Pathology: Fonseca RJ. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 5, Elseiver Health Sciences,2000;77-117.
16. Fragiskos DF. Odontogenic Infections: Fragiskos DF. Oral Surgery Germany: Springer, 2007;205-242.
17. Peker E, Karaca İR. Odontojenik enfeksiyon kaynaklı fasyaların apseleri. GÜ Diş Hek Fak Derg 2012;29(2):129-137.