Cysts and bursae of the nasopharynx are uncommon and seldom symptomatic when compared with malignant tumors of this region. However, it is noteworthy that in the presence of symptoms, a good knowledge of their radiological appearance is useful to establish the correct diagnosis. Cysts of Rathke's pouch, pharyngeal bursa of Luschka, Tornwaldt's cysts, retentional cysts of the seromucinous glands, oncocytic cysts, intra-adenoid cysts, branchial cysts, prevertebral or retropharyngeal abscess and pseudocysts of the nasopharynx will be discussed in this paper.
Retropharyngeal hematoma occurs rarely. It is located just in front of the cervical spine. Many circumstances can lead to its development. A trauma and/or anticoagulants are often key factors. The assessment must be made extremely carefully as such a hematoma can induce an airway compromise. Trauma being a key factor, it can also present with cervical spine fractures, increasing the risks. Two different cases of retropharyngeal hematomas are reported. The first case required surgical management with tracheotomy, per-oral drainage and naso-gastric tube feeding. A total recovery was obtained in 2 weeks. The second patient underwent medical treatment (methylprednisolone), and recovery was obtained in 6 days. Surgery for retropharyngeal hematoma is not always mandatory. It becomes necessary when a major dysphagia or dyspnea occurs. In other cases, medical treatment and close observation are usually sufficient.
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