Pediatric Periapical Abscess

  • Etiology: Infection around root of a tooth commonly caused by dental caries
  • Imaging Ultrasound: Useful in perimandibular swelling to diagnose a soft tissue abscess related to dental disease
  • Imaging CT: Lucency surrounding apex of tooth
  • DDX:
  • Complications: Abscess can spread to soft tissues including deep spaces of neck
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical: Odontogenic infection or abscess is most common cause of infection in masticator space

Radiology Cases of Periapical Abscess

CT of periapical abscess
Axial CT with contrast of the face (above) shows a low density fluid collection surrounded by an enhancing rim just to the right of midline and just anterior to the teeth. Sagittal CT (below) shows the fluid collection to be bilobed and coursing from the right maxilla up to the right orbit.