Retropharyngeal Abscess: Clinical Review

• Published in: Ear, nose & throat journal Vol. 74; no. 10; pp. 701 - 704
• Main Authors: Pontell, Jonathan, Har-El, Gady, Lucente, Frank E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.1995; Medquest Communications
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Foreign Bodies - complications; Foreign Bodies - microbiology; Humans; Infant; Klebsiella pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Klebsiella pneumoniae - pathogenicity; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology; Retropharyngeal Abscess - diagnosis; Retropharyngeal Abscess - drug therapy; Retropharyngeal Abscess - etiology; Retrospective Studies; Streptococcus - isolation & purification; Streptococcus - pathogenicity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Infection; Human; Symptomatology; Respiratory disease; Abscess; Pharynx disease; Review; Pharynx
• ISSN: 0145-5613; 1942-7522
• DOI: 10.1177/014556139507401008

Retropharyngeal abscess, once a relatively common entity in children, is uncommon today. From 1981 to 1991, we treated 20 cases. Abscesses secondary to upper respiratory infection in children were seen only in three (15%) cases. Trauma and foreign bodies were the most common etiologic factors in the adult subgroup. Streptococcus viridans and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common pathogens. The use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography has had a significant impact on the diagnostic work-up. The choice of initial antibiotic therapy is discussed. There were no deaths in this series.