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Odontogenic Infection of the Infratemporal Fossa: A Diagnostic Challenge Alisha Paul Adenike Bawor-Omatseye Julian Page Dental Update 2024 51:4, 707-709.
The infratemporal fossa (IF) is an important anatomical space that carries vital neurovascular structures within it. The formation of an abscess in the IF, particularly of odontogenic aetiology, is rare. It can pose a diagnostic challenge due its uncommon presentation and can be life-threatening with delayed treatment. We present an unusual case of an IF abscess in an otherwise healthy female patient. Due to the rising difficulty accessing emergency NHS dental services, the untimely diagnosis and management of odontogenic infections may lead to similar scenarios.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: It is important that clinicians have good knowledge of the anatomy of fascial spaces and be aware of signs and symptoms of spreading infections.
Article
The infratemporal fossa (IF) is a wedge-shaped space (Figure 1). It is bounded laterally by the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible, medially by the lateral pterygoid plate, superiorly by the greater wing of the sphenoid on the mesial aspect and temporal fossa on the lateral aspect. Posteriorly, it is bounded by the tympanic plate and styloid process and anteriorly by the posterior surface of maxilla (Figure 2). Its contents include the muscles of mastication, the pterygoid venous plexus and several nerves including mandibular and lingual nerves.
The clinical significance of the IF is that infection can arise or spread into it, and spread from it to the bony barriers present anteriorly, medially and posteriorly within the fossa. It communicates with other deep neck spaces, including the masticator and parapharyngeal spaces.2,3 Trismus, loss of taste sensation, compression of the mandibular nerve and numbness of the tongue are symptoms that can arise as a result.1
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