2020 Volume 63 Issue 3 Pages 104-108
Among cervical abscesses, abscess of the temporal muscle is rare, and its pathological characteristics are still not fully understood. Temporal muscle is one of the masticatory muscles, and pathology involving this muscle can lead to problems with mouth-opening and swelling of the temporal region of the head. The inflammation may also affect the masseter, inner/outer pterygoid muscles, and adjacent gaps in the masticatory muscle gap, and the clinical picture varies depending on the pattern of spread of the inflammation. We encountered a case of temporal muscle abscess that manifested as face pain in a patient with no underlying disease. It is important not only to evaluate the lesion by CT and other imaging modalities, but also to focus on the physical findings, such as mouth-opening disorders and temporal swelling. Spreading downward is typical for neck abscess, but the abscess that we encountered spread upward along the temporal muscle. Our patient improved after incision and drainage of the abscess and antibiotic therapy.
