Periodontal Pockets as a Potential Source of Infection: a Case of Possible Odontogenic Septic Pulmonary Embolism

Although dental foci can be sources of bacteremia and bacterial endocarditis, hematogenous spread of infection presented with septic pulmonary embolism apparently is rare. The occurrence of septic pulmonary embolism in patients with periodontal disease without suppurative thrombophlebitis of the great vessels of the neck is well documented but to our knowledge, there is no report on septic pulmonary embolism in immunocompetent patients following root canal treatment. Here in we present a 42-year-old man who referred to our hospital because of fever, left sided pleuritic chest pain, and scanty productive cough. Chest radiography and computed tomography revealed multiple nodular shadows with features characteristic of septic pulmonary embolism. His medical history revealed dental care clinic visit and root canal treatment 2 weeks earlier. In the present case, the results of extensive investigations were negative for other potential causes of septic pulmonary embolism and dental pocket was considered to be the only possible source for the disease.