Intracranial abscess secondary to dental infection

Abstract

The oral cavity is considered as being home to a rich and abundant microflora, including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. ac tinomyc etemcomitans), which is recognised as one of the major pathogens in destructive periodontal disease.1 A cerebral abscess linked to a dental source is a rare occurrence, since in most individuals the blood-brain barrier, along with the immune response, will exclude bacteria. In this age of antibiotics and with modern living conditions, pyogenic brain infections of odontogenic origin are uncommon in western society. It has been postulated that oral microorganisms may enter the cranium by several pathways: 1) by direct extension, 2) by haematogenous spread, 3) by local lymphatics, and 4) indirectly, by extraoral odontogenic infection. Brain abscesses thought to be of dental origin have been reported to have a lethal outcome.2