Septic thrombosis of the cavernous sinus secondary to a Streptococcus milleri oral infection

Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2012 Sep;41(6):525-8. doi: 10.1259/dmfr/33011853. Epub 2012 Jan 12.

Abstract

Septic thrombosis of the cavernous sinus (STCS) is an uncommon and potentially lethal disease. Sphenoid and ethmoid sinusitis followed by facial cutaneous infections represents the most common aetiologies, with Staphylococcus aureus as the main responsible organism followed by the Streptococcus pneumoniae. Although all infectious foci of the head and neck area can potentially spread to the cavernous sinus, STCS from oral infection is an exceptionally rare occurrence. We report the unusual case of a patient who presented with an acute STCS secondary to a generalized Streptococcus milleri periodontitis. This case highlights the importance of systematically performing a detailed examination of the oral cavity in patients presenting with intracranial infections caused by uncommon pathogens such as the Streptococcus milleri group.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cavernous Sinus / microbiology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Periodontitis / complications*
  • Periodontitis / microbiology*
  • Periodontitis / therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections / complications*
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / therapy
  • Streptococcus milleri Group / isolation & purification*
  • Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Thrombosis / microbiology*
  • Thrombosis / therapy