title: Orbital abscess from an odontogenic infection.
abstract: An orbital abscess is a rare but serious complication of an odontogenic infection, which can lead to loss of vision or worse. This paper presents a case of orbital abscess secondary to an infection from the upper molar teeth, which extended to the retobulbar and posterosuperior region of the orbit, close to the superior orbital fissure. The infection spreaded to the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossa and then to the orbit via the inferior orbital fissure. This paper reviews the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, route of spread, value of serial CT scanning, treatment and possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, Inha University, Choong-Gu, Incheon, Korea. kik@inha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Il-Kyu
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju-Rok
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keum-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Yeon-Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sun-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004172:Diplopia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034363:Viridans Streptococci / Q000302:isolation & purification*