Mediastinitis from odontogenic infection. A case report

We report a case of mediastinitis complicating a dental infection in a 40-year-old male. Despite drainage of the localised neck abscess and the administration of systemic antibiotics, his submandibular abscess extended to involve the pericardial and pleural cavities. Drainage procedures and thoracotomies were required to treat the empyema and purulent pericarditis. Computed tomography was used to follow the progression of disease and assess the efficacy of treatment.