The authors present an extensive review of current literature as well as their ten-year experience in management of patients with retropharyngeal abscesses. Emphasis is placed upon age, sex, type and duration of symptoms, bacteriology, methods of diagnosis, therapy, and complications. The authors' series reveals that retropharyngeal abscesses are found in adults, there is a wide spectrum of bacteriological organisms represented, and with appropriate antibiotic and surgical management the majority of patients survive without major residual sequelae.