title: Nasal septal abscess: unusual causes, complications, treatment, and sequelae.
abstract: Abscesses of the nasal septum are most likely to occur after trauma. Proper management of a nasal septal abscess requires prompt diagnosis, adequate surgical drainage, and parenteral antibiotics to prevent the potentially dangerous spread of infection and the development of severe functional and cosmetic sequelae. Without a history of prior trauma, physicians should be alert to other, less obvious causes for nasal septal abscesses. A rare case of an isolated sphenoid sinus infection leading to a nasal septal abscess illustrates the surgical treatment of these entities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Matsuba
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Thawley
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015524:Sphenoid Sinusitis / Q000150:complications; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000667:Ampicillin