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

Aithough dental foci can be sources of bacteremia and bacterialendocarditis, hematogenous spread of infection presentedwith septic pulmonary embolism apparently is rare. the occurrenceof septic pulmonary embolism in patients with periodontaldisease without suppurative thrombophlebitis of thegreat vessels of the neck is weii documented but to our knowledge,there is no report on septic pulmonary embolism in immunocompetentpatients following root canal treatment. herein we present a 42-year-old man who referred to our hospitalbecause of fever, left sided pleuritic chest pain, and scantyproductive cough. chest radiography and computed tomographyrevealed multiple nodular shadows with features characteristicof septic pulmonary embolism. his medical historyrevealed dental care clinic visit and root canal treatment 2weeks earlier . in the present case, the results of extensive investigationswere negative for other potential causes of septicpulmonary embolism and dental pocket was considered to bethe only possible source for the disease.