Paediatric retropharyngeal abscess

Abstract

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is an uncommon condition with the potential for significant morbidity and mortality if not detected early. The authors present a case report of a 19-month-old child who presented with the common clinical features of a retropharyngeal abscess and in whom the diagnosis was not established by examination and ultrasonography. This led to a delay in appropriate management until a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed under general anaesthesia. The scan demonstrated the diagnosis and surgical drainage was performed under the same anaesthetic. The child subsequently made a complete recovery. The investigation and treatment of RPAs is a matter of some debate and the authors review the recent literature to determine the best management strategy.

Giant retropharyngeal abscess in pediatric patient: case report

“…[1,2] Nadir görülen bir durum olmasına rağmen, havayolu obstrüksiyonu, servikal nekrotizan fasiit, mediastinit, juguler ven trombozu, karotis arter anevrizması gibi ölüm-cül komplikasyonlara yol açabilmesi açısından önemlidir. [3][4][5][6] Çoğunlukla üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonuna ikincil gelişen lenf nodlarının süpürasyonuna bağlı olarak oluşur. [7] Sıklıkla çocukluk çağında görülür ve ortalama görülme yaşı 3 ay-3 yaş olarak değişmektedir.…”

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“…After this time, according to Cmejrek et al, retropharyngeal lymph nodes undergo spontaneous regression [8]. Retropharyngeal lymph nodes collect lymph from the nasal cavity, pharynx, maxillary sinuses and pharyngeal tonsil [9,10]. In the course of frequent acute inflammatory ailments of the upper respiratory tract in children lymph nodes situated in the retropharyngeal space may be subject to inflammation [7,9].…”

“…Retropharyngeal lymph nodes collect lymph from the nasal cavity, pharynx, maxillary sinuses and pharyngeal tonsil [9,10]. In the course of frequent acute inflammatory ailments of the upper respiratory tract in children lymph nodes situated in the retropharyngeal space may be subject to inflammation [7,9]. In some cases the inflammation of retropharyngeal lymph nodes can be of a suppurative nature [7,9,10].…”

“…In the course of frequent acute inflammatory ailments of the upper respiratory tract in children lymph nodes situated in the retropharyngeal space may be subject to inflammation [7,9]. In some cases the inflammation of retropharyngeal lymph nodes can be of a suppurative nature [7,9,10]. In the case of the suppuration of Henle lymph nodes retropharyngeal abscess occurs [7,9,10,11].…”

“…In some cases the inflammation of retropharyngeal lymph nodes can be of a suppurative nature [7,9,10]. In the case of the suppuration of Henle lymph nodes retropharyngeal abscess occurs [7,9,10,11]. Starting at the age of about 5, retropharyngeal lymph nodes undergo spontaneous atrophy and, as a consequence, the retropharyngeal space in adults is filled only with flaccid connective tissue [12].…”