abscess

Examples of abscess in the following topics:

• Abscesses and Ulcers

  • An abscess is a collection of pus that results from an infectious process, while an ulcer is a break or opening in the mucous membrane.
  • An abscess is a collection of pus (dead neutrophils) that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue in which the pus resides, due to an infectious process (usually related to bacteria or parasites) or other foreign materials (e.g. splinters, bullet wounds, or injecting needles).
  • The final structure of the abscess is an abscess wall, or capsule, that is formed by the adjacent healthy cells in an attempt to keep the pus from infecting neighboring structures.
  • An abscess is a collection of pus (dead neutrophils) that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process (usually caused by bacteria or parasites) or other foreign materials (e.g. splinters, bullet wounds, or injecting needles).

• Sinusitis

  • Spreading to the orbit may result in periorbital cellulitis, subperiosteal abscess, orbital cellulitis, and abscess.
  • Sinusitis may extend to the central nervous system where it may cause cavernous sinus thrombosis, retrograde meningitis, and epidural, subdural, and brain abscesses.

• Spinal Cord Compression

  • Spinal cord compression develops when the spinal cord is compressed by bone fragments from a vertebral fracture, a tumor, abscess, ruptured intervertebral disc, or other lesion .
  • The most common causes of cord compression are tumors, but abscesses and granulomas (e.g. in tuberculosis) are equally capable of producing the syndrome.
  • In spinal cord compression, the spinal cord (shown here) may be compressed by bone fragments from a vertebral fracture, a tumor, abscess, ruptured intervertebral disc, or other lesion.

• Injuries to the Phrenic Nerves

  • For example, a subphrenic abscess beneath the right diaphragm might cause a patient to feel pain in the right shoulder (Kehr's sign).

• Tonsillectomy

  • It is performed in response to cases of repeated occurrence of acute tonsillitis or adenoiditis, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal airway obstruction, snoring, or peritonsillar abscess.

• Spinal Tap

  • Increased levels of lactate can occur the presence of cancer of the central nervous system, multiple sclerosis, low blood pressure, low serum phosphorus, respiratory alkalosis, idiopathic seizures, traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia, brain abscess, hydrocephalus, or bacterial meningitis.

• Peritonitis

  • A peritoneal abscess may form and sepsis may develop, so blood cultures should be obtained.

• Diverticular Disease

  • The diverticula can become infected and develop abscesses, or even perforate.

• Root Canal Therapy

  • The double-headed arrow (bottom right) shows the extent of the abscess that surrounds the apex of the palatal root.