An Autopsy Case of Posterior Pharyngeal Abscesses Caused by Periodontal Bacteria

Abstract

A woman in her seventies living alone was found dead on the floor of her living room. A blue-green swelling was found from her right cheek to her anterior neck and an autopsy was performed. The autopsy revealed subcutaneous abscesses from the right cheek to the anterior neck, posterior pharyngeal abscesses, mediastinal abscesses, pleuritis, and pericarditis. The cause of death was diagnosed as sepsis due to a retropharyngeal abscess caused by extensive severe periodontitis. The presence of a dentist at the autopsy allowed for a rapid diagnosis of periodontal disease, which was the cause of the posterior pharyngeal abscesses and septic shock. Therefore, the participation of a dentist in a forensic autopsy is important not only for personal identification but also for the rapid diagnosis of the cause of death.

Sudden Death: A Practical Autopsy Approach to Unexplained Mediastinitis Due to Fatal Untreated Neck Infections—A Systematic Review

“…As shown, eight out of twelve (66.7%) of the individuals were male, while four (33.3%) were female. [17] 76 Female…”

“…Miller et al (2018) [13] observed a greenish discoloration of the body. Musayev et al (2020) [15], Abbie Tu, Gilbert J.D., and Byard R. (2021) [16] and Bandou et al (2022) [17] described significant swelling of the neck with local signs of putrefaction, such as greenish discoloration of the neck, subcutaneous emphysema, and evidence of tooth avulsion. In all the cases presented, infective involvement of the mediastinum was found during the autopsy.…”