Bilateral peritonsillar abscess: case report and literature review

• Published in: American journal of otolaryngology Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 163 - 167
• Main Authors: Pham, Viet, MD, Gungor, Anil, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 2012; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Airway management; Biological and medical sciences; Dysphagia; Family medical history; Female; Humans; Medical sciences; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pediatrics; Peritonsillar Abscess - diagnosis; Peritonsillar Abscess - microbiology; Peritonsillar Abscess - surgery; Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcal Infections - surgery; Streptococcal Infections - diagnosis; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - surgery; Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tonsillitis; United States > US; Case study; Human; Amygdala; Abscess; Bilateral; ENT; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0196-0709; 1532-818X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2010.12.010

Abstract Although uncommon, bilateral peritonsillar abscess (PTA) may still present with symptoms found in unilateral cases but lack hallmark findings such as an asymmetric tonsillar bulge and uvular deviation. We present the case of an 18-year-old woman deemed to have a bilateral PTA based on physical examination and radiographic imaging. She underwent successful surgical drainage with needle aspiration, followed by incision and drainage. A computed tomography with intravenous contrast should be obtained when a patient displays signs suggestive of a bilateral PTA but the diagnosis is not certain. To our knowledge, this is the first report of 2 different bacterial species cultured from contralateral abscesses during the same encounter.