Needle Aspiration of Neck Abscesses In Children

Abstract

Needle aspiration of neck abscesses with CT-scan guidance was studied in 17 children with 18 abscesses from 1986 to 1991. Clinical and radiologic findings were analyzed according to treatment outcome. A majority of abscesses (55.6%) resolved after treatment with one to two attempts at needle aspiration and parenteral antibiotics. Unilocular abscesses were more likely than multilocular abscesses to resolve with needle aspiration. In general, abscesses in younger children who presented with smaller neck masses on physical examination and smaller abscess cavities on CT scan resolved with needle aspiration. The data support the use of needle aspiration as an effective initial treatment for pediatric neck abscesses. CT scan was found beneficial in documenting the abscesses and in guiding treatment. A treatment protocol is suggested for the use of needle aspiration in the management of neck abscesses in children.

Medical and surgical treatment of peritonsillar, retropharyngeal, and parapharyngeal abscesses

“…There are several reports of closed surgical drainage of head and neck abscesses [23][24][25][26][27]. Ultrasound and CT scanning guidance were the most common techniques used for placement of needles or indwelling catheters in these abscesses.…”

Nonsurgical management of thyroid abscess with sonographically guided fine needle aspiration

“…The morbidity associated with open surgical drainage has led to the consideration of conservative management via needle (18-20-gauge) aspiration or catheter drainage under CT or sonographic guidance. [5][6][7] We report 2 cases of successful nonsurgical management of a thyroid abscess with percutaneous 21-gauge needle aspiration. In both cases, the procedure was performed under sonographic guidance using an SSA-240A scanner (Toshiba Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with an SM-708A 7.5-MHz mechanical sector transducer.…”

Pediatric Deep Neck Space Abscesses: A Prospective Observational Study

“…Poe et al in 1996 reported the successful CT guided aspiration of deep neck abscesses in four patients. Brodsky et al [34] has recommended needle aspiration in children with small superficial neck abscess. We found very disappointing results with blind aspiration and empirical therapy.…”