Fatal acute bacterial myocarditis after dentoalveolar abscess

A 19 year old woman presented with chest pain after a dental extraction for a dentoalveolar abscess. Electrocardiographic and serum isoenzyme changes were consistent with acute anterior myocardial infarction. At autopsy bacteria were demonstrated, within the myocardium in the absence of a myocardial abscess or endocarditis. This case illustrates the occurrence of isolated acute bacterial myocarditis after a dental extraction.