Septic pulmonary embolism secondary to dental focus

Quintessence Int. 2008 Oct;39(9):753-6.

Abstract

A 24-year-old female was admitted to an infectious diseases unit with complaints of dyspnea and fever. She had suffered from multiple episodes of fever for 1 year. The diagnostic workup revealed multiple pulmonary nodules on the chest CT scan, suggesting septic pulmonary embolism, and a periapical abscess around the maxillary right central incisor. Because no other infectious source was found and resolution of the fever and the pulmonary lesions occurred only after extraction of the affected tooth and antibiotic therapy, the condition was diagnosed as a periapical abscess complicated by septic pulmonary embolism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Focal Infection, Dental / complications*
  • Focal Infection, Dental / therapy
  • Humans
  • Periapical Abscess / complications*
  • Periapical Abscess / therapy
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / therapy
  • Tooth Extraction
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents