Abstract

Clinical features of masticator-space abscess (MSA) are very similar to those of parotitis or temporomandibular disorder (TMD), making early differ-ential diagnosis difficult.Local causes of MSA include nerve block anesthesia, infection after tooth extraction, and trauma to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ); the systemic cause is immunodeficienc. Odontogenic causes account for most etiologies, but there are also unusual causes of MSA. A 66-year-old male patient visited the emergency room (ER) presenting with left-side TMJ pain three days after receiving an acupressure massage. He was tentatively diagnosed with conventional post-trauma TMD and discharged with medication. However, the patient returned to the ER with in-creased pain. At this time, his TMD diagnosis was confirmed.He made a third visit to the ER during which facial computed tomographic (CT) images were taken. CT readings identifiedan abscess or hematoma in the left masticator space. After hospitalizing the patient, needle aspiration confirmedpus in the infratemporal and temporal fossa. Antibiotics were administered, and the abscess was drained through an incision made by the attending physi-cian. The patient’s symptoms decreased, and he was discharged.