Massive Anterior Chest Wall Abscess Complicating Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Infection- A Case Report

Abstract

Purulent material from odontogenic infection can occasionally burrow deeply and spread from the initial origin of the infection to fascial spaces or planes far from the oral cavity like the mediastinum or retropharyngeal region. However, abscess collection in the anterior chest wall as a complication of odontogenic infection is uncommon.
We report a rare case of massive anterior chest wall abscess arising from odontogenic infection involving an impacted mandibular third molar in a 40-year-old Nigerian female. Incision and drainage of the abscess and extraction of the offending tooth were done consecutively. Patient’s management was severely hampered by the inability to afford the cost of investigations and treatment. However, despite this constraint there was remarkable recovery. She was followed up for 8 months without any adverse event or recurrence.