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Retropharyngeal abscess

MedGen UID:
57614
•Concept ID:
C0155843
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Abscess, Retropharyngeal; Abscesses, Retropharyngeal; Retropharyngeal Abscess; Retropharyngeal Abscesses
SNOMED CT: Retropharyngeal abscess (18099001)

Definition

An abscess that develops in the soft tissues behind the posterior pharyngeal wall. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVRetropharyngeal abscess

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Management of pediatric head and neck infections in the emergency department.
Abudinen-Vasquez S, Marin MN
Pediatr Emerg Med Pract 2020 Nov;17(11):1-24. Epub 2020 Nov 2 PMID: 33105074
Emergency evaluation and management of the sore throat.
Cirilli AR
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2013 May;31(2):501-15. Epub 2013 Feb 18 doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2013.01.002. PMID: 23601485
Retropharyngeal abscess: diagnosis and treatment update.
Reilly BK, Reilly JS
Infect Disord Drug Targets 2012 Aug;12(4):291-6. doi: 10.2174/187152612801319320. PMID: 22338591

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Complications of peritonsillar abscess.
Klug TE, Greve T, Hentze M
Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2020 Jul 30;19(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s12941-020-00375-x. PMID: 32731900Free PMC Article
Retropharyngeal abscess after chemotherapy.
Mettias B, Robertson S, Buchanan MA
BMJ Case Rep 2018 Mar 5;2018 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-222610. PMID: 29507016Free PMC Article
Retropharyngeal abscess: diagnosis and treatment update.
Reilly BK, Reilly JS
Infect Disord Drug Targets 2012 Aug;12(4):291-6. doi: 10.2174/187152612801319320. PMID: 22338591
Deep neck infection.
Vieira F, Allen SM, Stocks RM, Thompson JW
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2008 Jun;41(3):459-83, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2008.01.002. PMID: 18435993
Supraglottic airway infections.
Millan SB, Cumming WA
Prim Care 1996 Dec;23(4):741-58. doi: 10.1016/s0095-4543(05)70360-2. PMID: 8890142

Diagnosis

Infections of the Neck.
Li RM, Kiemeney M
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2019 Feb;37(1):95-107. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.003. PMID: 30454783
Infections of the Oropharynx.
Klein MR
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2019 Feb;37(1):69-80. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.002. PMID: 30454781
Infections and edema.
Linkov G, Soliman AM
Anesthesiol Clin 2015 Jun;33(2):329-46. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2015.02.005. PMID: 25999006
Pediatric ENT emergencies.
Stoner MJ, Dulaurier M
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2013 Aug;31(3):795-808. Epub 2013 Jun 14 doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2013.04.005. PMID: 23915604
Deep neck infection.
Vieira F, Allen SM, Stocks RM, Thompson JW
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2008 Jun;41(3):459-83, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2008.01.002. PMID: 18435993

Therapy

Infections of the Oropharynx.
Klein MR
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2019 Feb;37(1):69-80. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.002. PMID: 30454781
Croup: an overview.
Zoorob R, Sidani M, Murray J
Am Fam Physician 2011 May 1;83(9):1067-73. PMID: 21534520
Pediatric respiratory infections.
Shah S, Sharieff GQ
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2007 Nov;25(4):961-79, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2007.07.006. PMID: 17950132
Croup.
Skolnik N
J Fam Pract 1993 Aug;37(2):165-70. PMID: 8336098
Retropharyngeal abscess.
Hamer R
Ann Emerg Med 1982 Oct;11(10):549-52. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(82)80429-0. PMID: 7125316

Prognosis

Emerging findings for the assessment and treatment of pediatric deep neck abscesses.
Hankey PB, Tracy M, Arganbright JM
Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023 Dec 1;31(6):407-411. Epub 2023 Oct 9 doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000937. PMID: 37820224
Neonatal retropharyngeal abscess with complications: Apnea and cervical osteomyelitis.
Ali NE, Alyono JC, Koltai PJ
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Nov;126:109613. Epub 2019 Jul 31 doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109613. PMID: 31382216
Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Ischemic Stroke Secondary to Retropharyngeal and Parapharyngeal Abscess.
Ruff MW, Nasr DM, Klaas JP, Renaud DL
J Child Neurol 2017 Feb;32(2):230-236. Epub 2016 Nov 25 doi: 10.1177/0883073816678556. PMID: 27888269
Retropharyngeal abscess: diagnosis and treatment update.
Reilly BK, Reilly JS
Infect Disord Drug Targets 2012 Aug;12(4):291-6. doi: 10.2174/187152612801319320. PMID: 22338591
Descending cervical mediastinitis.
Kiernan PD, Hernandez A, Byrne WD, Bloom R, Dicicco B, Hetrick V, Graling P, Vaughan B
Ann Thorac Surg 1998 May;65(5):1483-8. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(98)00142-8. PMID: 9594903

Clinical prediction guides

Disparities in the Presentation and Management of Pediatric Retropharyngeal Abscess.
Nicotera DJ, Islam AA, Liu Y, Dunsky K, Lieu JEC
Laryngoscope 2024 Apr;134(4):1907-1912. Epub 2023 Sep 12 doi: 10.1002/lary.31048. PMID: 37698387
Emerging findings for the assessment and treatment of pediatric deep neck abscesses.
Hankey PB, Tracy M, Arganbright JM
Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023 Dec 1;31(6):407-411. Epub 2023 Oct 9 doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000937. PMID: 37820224
National trends in retropharyngeal abscess among adult inpatients with peritonsillar abscess.
Qureshi HA, Ference EH, Tan BK, Chandra RK, Kern RC, Smith SS
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2015 Apr;152(4):661-6. Epub 2015 Jan 20 doi: 10.1177/0194599814568286. PMID: 25605696
Clinical features and treatment of retropharyngeal abscess in children.
Page NC, Bauer EM, Lieu JE
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008 Mar;138(3):300-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2007.11.033. PMID: 18312875
Retropharyngeal abscesses: a clinical and radiologic correlation.
Boucher C, Dorion D, Fisch C
J Otolaryngol 1999 Jun;28(3):134-7. PMID: 10410343

Recent systematic reviews

Ultrasonography-guided drainage versus surgical drainage for deep neck space abscesses: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Alzaid M, Ramadhan M, Abul A, Karam M, Alsaif A, Stapleton E
J Laryngol Otol 2024 Sep;138(9):906-912. Epub 2024 Apr 15 doi: 10.1017/S0022215124000501. PMID: 38616333Free PMC Article
Antibiotic therapy for pediatric deep neck abscesses: a systematic review.
Carbone PN, Capra GG, Brigger MT
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2012 Nov;76(11):1647-53. Epub 2012 Aug 23 doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2012.07.038. PMID: 22921604

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