Retropharyngeal Abscess Questions & Answers

1. Jain H, Knorr TL, Sinha V. Retropharyngeal Abscess. StatPearls. 2020 Jan. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

2. Harkani A, Hassani R, Ziad T, et al. Retropharyngeal abscess in adults: five case reports and review of the literature. ScientificWorldJournal. 2011. 11:1623-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

3. Marques PM, Spratley JE, Leal LM, Cardoso E, Santos M. Parapharyngeal abscess in children: five year retrospective study. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Dec. 75(6):826-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Wald ER. Retropharyngeal infections in children. UpToDate. 2019 Jul 15. 1-26.

5. Bochner RE, Gangar M, Belamarich PF. A Clinical Approach to Tonsillitis, Tonsillar Hypertrophy, and Peritonsillar and Retropharyngeal Abscesses. Pediatr Rev. 2017 Feb. 38 (2):81-92. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

6. Fleisher GR. Evaluation of sore throat in children. UpToDate. Available at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/evaluation-of-sore-throat-in-children?csi=6b4ca701-48b5-40dd-a78b-beeb59ebc4a1&source=contentShare. 2020 Jun 04; Accessed: September 15, 2020.

7. Chow AW. Deepneck space infections in adults. UpToDate. Available at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/deep-neck-space-infections-in-adults?csi=913f17b3-aa6e-4819-87bb-ac686f7b20b1&source=contentShare. 2020 Jul 13; Accessed: September 15, 2020.

8. Bruno MA, Drabek T, Manole MD. Difficult Intubation and Ventilation in an Infant With Retropharyngeal Abscess With Mediastinal Extension. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2019 Jun. 35 (6):e104-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Balasubramanian A, Shah JR, Gazali N, Rajan P. Life-threatening parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess in an infant. BMJ Case Rep. 2017 Oct 9. 2017:1-11. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

10. Van TT, Naccache SN, Dien Bard J. The Brief Case: Retropharyngeal Abscess in a 14-Year-Old Caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. J Clin Microbiol. 2018 Dec. 56 (12):1-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

11. Gilbert DN, Chambers HF, Saag MS, et al. The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy. 50th ed. Antimicrobial Therapy; 2020.

12. Li RM, Kiemeney M. Infections of the Neck. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2019 Feb. 37 (1):95-107. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Novis SJ, Pritchett CV, Thorne MC, et al. Pediatric deep space neck infections in U.S. children, 2000-2009. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2014 May. 78(5):832-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Woods CR, Cash ED, Smith AM, et al. Retropharyngeal and Parapharyngeal Abscesses Among Children and Adolescents in the United States: Epidemiology and Management Trends, 2003-2012. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2016 Sep. 5 (3):259-68. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Abdel-Haq NM, Harahsheh A, Asmar BL. Retropharyngeal abscess in children: the emerging role of group A beta hemolytic streptococcus. South Med J. 2006 Sep. 99(9):927-31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Abdel-Haq N, Quezada M, Asmar BI. Retropharyngeal Abscess in Children: The Rising Incidence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Jul. 31(7):696-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

17. Page NC, Bauer EM, Lieu JE. Clinical features and treatment of retropharyngeal abscess in children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Mar. 138(3):300-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Angajala V, Hur K, Jacobson L, Hochstim C. Geographic health disparities in the Los Angeles pediatric neck abscess population. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Oct. 113:134-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

19. Chang L, Chi H, Chiu NC, Huang FY, Lee KS. Deep neck infections in different age groups of children. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2010 Feb. 43(1):47-52. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Huang CM, Huang FL, Chien YL, Chen PY. Deep neck infections in children. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2015 Sep 9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

21. Grisaru-Soen G, Komisar O, Aizenstein O, Soudack M, Schwartz D, Paret G. Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess in children--epidemiology, clinical features and treatment. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Sep. 74(9):1016-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Croche SB, Prieto D P A, Madrid C, et. al. [Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess: experience in a tertiary-care center in Seville during the last decade]. An Pediatr (Barc). October 2011. 75:266-72.

23. Sanz Sanchez CI, Morales Angulo C. Retropharyngeal Abscess. Clinical Review of Twenty-five Years. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 2020 May 30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Yap D, Harris AS, Clarke J. Serious tonsil infections versus tonsillectomy rates in Wales: a 15-year analysis. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2017 Jan. 99 (1):31-36. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Buckley J, Harris AS, Addams-Williams J. Ten years of deep neck space abscesses. J Laryngol Otol. 2019 Apr. 133 (4):324-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

26. Wang LF, Kuo WR, Tsai SM, Huang KJ. Characterizations of life-threatening deep cervical space infections: a review of one hundred ninety-six cases. Am J Otolaryngol. 2003 Mar-Apr. 24(2):111-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

27. Ridder GJ, Technau-Ihling K, Sander A, Boedeker CC. Spectrum and management of deep neck space infections: an 8-year experience of 234 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Nov. 133(5):709-14. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

28. Lander L, Lu S, Shah RK. Pediatric retropharyngeal abscesses: a national perspective. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Dec. 72(12):1837-43. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

29. Shah RK, Chun R, Choi SS. Mediastinitis in infants from deep neck space infections. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009 Jun. 140(6):936-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

30. Coticchia JM, Getnick GS, Yun RD, Arnold JE. Age-, site-, and time-specific differences in pediatric deep neck abscesses. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Feb. 130(2):201-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

31. Nwaorgu OG, Onakoya PA, Fasunla JA, Ibekwe TS. Retropharyngeal abscess: a clinical experience at the University College Hospital Ibadan. Niger J Med. 2005 Oct-Dec. 14(4):415-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

32. Craig FW, Schunk JE. Retropharyngeal abscess in children: clinical presentation, utility of imaging, and current management. Pediatrics. 2003 Jun. 111(6 Pt 1):1394-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

33. Vinckenbosch P, Guilcher P, Lambercy K, Richard C. [Retropharyngeal abscess in children]. Rev Med Suisse. 2017 Oct 4. 13 (577):1698-1702. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

34. Hirshoren N, Gross M, Weinberger JM, Eliashar R. Retropharyngeal infected hematoma: a unique complication of nasogastric tube insertion. J Trauma. 2009 Oct. 67(4):891. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

35. Kim SY, Min C, Lee WH, Choi HG. Tonsillectomy increases the risk of retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses in adults, but not in children: a national cohort study. PLoS One. 2018. 13 (3):e0193913. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

36. Qureshi HA, Ference EH, Tan BK, et al. National trends in retropharyngeal abscess among adult inpatients with peritonsillar abscess. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Jan 20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

37. Jain H, Knorr TL, Sinha V. Retropharyngeal Abscess. StatPearls. 2020 Jul 26. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

38. Ridder GJ, Technau-Ihling K, Sander A, Boedeker CC. Spectrum and management of deep neck space infections: an 8-year experience of 234 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Nov. 133(5):709-14. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

39. Brook I. Role of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in head and neck infections. J Laryngol Otol. 2009 Dec. 123(12):1301-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

40. Kamath MP, Bhojwani KM, Kamath SU, Mahabala C, Agarwal S. Tuberculous retropharyngeal abscess. Ear Nose Throat J. 2007 Apr. 86(4):236-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

41. Carinci F, Polito J, Pastore A. Pharyngeal actinomycosis: a case report. Gerodontology. 2007 Jun. 24(2):121-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

42. Das R, Muldrew KL, Posligua WE, Boyce JM. Cryptococcal retropharyngeal abscess. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2010 Sep. 8(5):322-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

43. Fleisch AF, Nolan S, Gerber J, Coffin SE. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a cause of extensive retropharyngeal abscess in two infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007 Dec. 26(12):1161-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

44. Falup-Pecurariu O, Leibovitz E, Pascu C, Falup-Pecurariu C. Bacteremic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus deep neck abscess in a newborn--case report and review of literature. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Dec. 73(12):1824-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

45. Langner S, Ginzkey C, Mlynski R, Weiss NM. Differentiation of retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis and retropharyngeal abscess: a case series and review of the literature. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Sep. 277 (9):2631-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

46. Ukeba Y, Saita Y, Matsuzawa T, Wada T, Kanai N, Kobayashi I. Apnea in a 2-month-old girl with retropharyngeal abscess. Acta Paediatr. 2009 Feb. 98(2):210. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

47. Tomita H, Yamashiro T, Ikeda H, Fujikawa A, Kurihara Y, Nakajima Y. Fluid collection in the retropharyngeal space: A wide spectrum of various emergency diseases. Eur J Radiol. 2016 Jul. 85 (7):1247-56. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

48. Elsherif AM, Park AH, Alder SC, Smith ME, Muntz HR, Grimmer F. Indicators of a more complicated clinical course for pediatric patients with retropharyngeal abscess. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Feb. 74(2):198-201. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

49. Elliott M, Yong S, Beckenham T. Carotid artery occlusion in association with a retropharyngeal abscess. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006 Feb. 70(2):359-63. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

50. Wang LF, Tai CF, Kuo WR, Chien CY. Predisposing factors of complicated deep neck infections: 12-year experience at a single institution. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010 Aug. 39(4):335-41. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

51. Klein MR. Infections of the Oropharynx. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2019 Feb. 37 (1):69-80. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

52. Debnam JM, Guha-Thakurta N. Retropharyngeal and prevertebral spaces: anatomic imaging and diagnosis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2012 Dec. 45 (6):1293-310. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

53. Miller A, Stew B, Moorhouse T, Owens D, Whittet H. PREVERTEBRAL SOFT TISSUE MEASUREMENTS: HOW ACCURATE ARE RADIOLOGICAL GUIDELINES?. Ortho Proc. 2018 Feb 21. 95-B (Supp_12):

54. Carpenter G, Jones J. Perivertebral space. Radiopaedia. Available at https://radiopaedia.org/articles/perivertebral-space?lang=us#:~:text=Normal%20thickness&text=Naturally%20there%20is%20a%20near,with%20and%20those%20without%20injury.. Accessed: January 8, 2021.

55. Uzomefuna V, Glynn F, Mackle T, Russell J. Atypical locations of retropharyngeal abscess: beware of the normal lateral soft tissue neck X-ray. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Dec. 74(12):1445-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

56. Wilkie MD, De S, Krishnan M. Defining the role of surgical drainage in paediatric deep neck space infections. Clin Otolaryngol. 2019 May. 44 (3):366-71. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

57. Corte FC, Firmino-Machado J, Moura CP, Spratley J, Santos M. Acute pediatric neck infections: outcomes in a seven-year series. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Aug. 99:128-34. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

58. Oh JH, Kim Y, Kim CH. Parapharyngeal abscess: comprehensive management protocol. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2007. 69(1):37-42. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

59. Courtney MJ, Mahadevan M, Miteff A. Management of paediatric retropharyngeal infections: non-surgical versus surgical. ANZ J Surg. 2007 Nov. 77(11):985-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

60. Carbone PN, Capra GG, Brigger MT. Antibiotic therapy for pediatric deep neck abscesses: a systematic review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Nov. 76(11):1647-53. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

61. Kosko J, Casey J. Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses: factors in medical management failure. Ear Nose Throat J. 2017 Jan. 96 (1):E12-E15. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

62. Elliott M, Yong S, Beckenham T. Carotid artery occlusion in association with a retropharyngeal abscess. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006 Feb. 70(2):359-63. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

63. Chen TC, Wu MH, Cheng YJ, Chang PC. Spontaneous pharyngoesophageal perforations. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2011 Nov. 40(5):1250-2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

64. Rodionov NF, Kulagin AIa, Kosolapov IN. [Retropharyngeal abscess in an adult patient complicated by purulent meningoencephalitis]. Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2011. (5):68-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

65. Maroldi R, Farina D, Ravanelli M, et al. Emergency imaging assessment of deep neck space infections. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2012 Oct. 33(5):432-42. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Joseph H Kahn, MD Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine; MD Advisor, Boston Medical Center

Joseph H Kahn, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Massachusetts Medical Society, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD, FACEP Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Chief Medical Information Officer, Keck Medicine of USC

Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System

Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael Glick, DMD Dean, University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine

Michael Glick, DMD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral Medicine, American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark W Fourre, MD Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Vermont School of Medicine; Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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