[Two cases of mediastinitis as a complication of odontogenic infection and tonsillitis]

We experienced two cases of descending necrotizing mediastinitis with different etiology. Case 1: A 59-year-old woman presented with chief complaints of dyspnea and swallowing disturbance. She had been diagnosed as having tonsillitis one week before. She was very pyrexic, and laboratory examination indicated acute inflammation. Chest X-ray and CT-scan showed enlargement of the mediastinum and pleural effusion. We diagnosed the mediastinitis to be a complication of tonsillitis. Case 2: A 54-year-old man had a tooth extracted 3 weeks prior to admission. His chief complaints were craniomandibular disturbance and neck swelling. Laboratory examination disclosed multiple organ failure and DIC. Chest X-ray and CT-scan showed enlargement of the mediastinum and pleural effusion. We diagnosed the mediastinitis in this case to be a consequence of an odontogenic infection following tooth extraction. Both patients received continuous drainage and irrigation of the abscesses and recovered in about 2 months. Case 1 showed an impaired glucose tolerance after recovery from mediastinitis. Although the main causes of mediastinitis are cardiac surgery and esophageal perforation, our cases demonstrate that mediastinitis may occur as a complication of deep neck infection.