[Chronic maxillofacial suppuration due to unknown plant foreign bodies. Apropos of 2 cases with CT scanning]

Common features in two patients with chronic suppurative lesions of the maxillofacial region from vegetable foreign bodies were : foreign body origin of the accident ; chronic nature of the suppuration (7 and 23 months respectively) ; multiple operations by different surgical teams ; radiotransparency of the foreign bodies. Positive signs on CT scanning can confirm the diagnosis, but cannot exclude it when normal images are obtained. The number and localization of wood fragments may limit the value of the scan, and fistulography and xeroradiography may then provide confirmation of the diagnosis. Operative treatment may be difficult due to fragmentation of the wood into multiple pieces, a possible source of recurrence of infection.