title: Diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous facial sinus tracts of dental origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous draining sinus tracts of dental origin often are a diagnostic challenge. A delay in correctly diagnosing these types of lesions can result in ineffective and inappropriate treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors present five cases of facial lesions that were initially misdiagnosed as lesions of nonodontogenic origin. The correct diagnosis in each case was cutaneous sinus tract secondary to pulpal necrosis and suppurative apical periodontitis. All facial sinus tracts resolved after the patients received nonsurgical root canal therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As patients with cutaneous facial sinus tracts of dental origin often do not have obvious dental symptoms, possible dental etiology may be overlooked. Early correct diagnosis and treatment of these lesions can help prevent unnecessary and ineffective antibiotic therapy or surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry 60612-7212, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Remeikis
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Van Cura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy