Pediatric Retropharyngeal Abscess Questions & Answers

1. Vieira F, Allen SM, Stocks RM, Thompson JW. Deep neck infection. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2008 Jun. 41 (3):459-83, vii. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. 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].

3. Chirinos JA, Garcia J, Alcaide ML, Toledo G, Baracco GJ, Lichtstein DM. Septic thrombophlebitis: diagnosis and management. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2006. 6 (1):9-14. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. 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].

5. Schweinfurth JM. Demographics of pediatric head and neck infections in a tertiary care hospital. Laryngoscope. 2006 Jun. 116 (6):887-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

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

7. 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].

8. Agarwal AK, Sethi A, Sethi D, Mrig S, Chopra S. Role of socioeconomic factors in deep neck abscess: A prospective study of 120 patients. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007 Oct. 45 (7):553-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. 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].

10. 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].

11. Khudan A, Jugmohansingh G, Islam S, Medford S, Naraynsingh V. The effectiveness of conservative management for retropharyngeal abscesses greater than 2 cm. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2016 Nov. 11:62-65. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

12. Harounian JA, Patel VA, Carr MM. An analysis of perioperative outcomes following cervical abscess drainage in children under 2 years. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Jan. 116:125-129. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Philpott CM, Selvadurai D, Banerjee AR. Paediatric retropharyngeal abscess. J Laryngol Otol. 2004 Dec. 118 (12):919-26. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Baldassari CM, Howell R, Amorn M, Budacki R, Choi S, Pena M. Complications in pediatric deep neck space abscesses. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011 Apr. 144 (4):592-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Makeieff M, Pelliccia P, Mondain M, Machi P. Pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery complicating deep neck space infection. J Pediatr. 2010 Sep. 157 (3):510. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. 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].

17. Freling N, Roele E, Schaefer-Prokop C, Fokkens W. Prediction of deep neck abscesses by contrast-enhanced computerized tomography in 76 clinically suspect consecutive patients. Laryngoscope. 2009 Sep. 119 (9):1745-52. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Shefelbine SE, Mancuso AA, Gajewski BJ, Ojiri H, Stringer S, Sedwick JD. Pediatric retropharyngeal lymphadenitis: differentiation from retropharyngeal abscess and treatment implications. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007 Feb. 136 (2):182-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

19. Malloy KM, Christenson T, Meyer JS, Tai S, Deutsch ES, Barth PC, et al. Lack of association of CT findings and surgical drainage in pediatric neck abscesses. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Feb. 72 (2):235-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Kirse DJ, Roberson DW. Surgical management of retropharyngeal space infections in children. Laryngoscope. 2001 Aug. 111 (8):1413-22. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Johnston D, Schmidt R, Barth P. Parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal infections in children: argument for a trial of medical therapy and intraoral drainage for medical treatment failures. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 May. 73 (5):761-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. 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].

23. McClay JE, Murray AD, Booth T. Intravenous antibiotic therapy for deep neck abscesses defined by computed tomography. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003 Nov. 129 (11):1207-12. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Wong DK, Brown C, Mills N, Spielmann P, Neeff M. To drain or not to drain - management of pediatric deep neck abscesses: a case-control study. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Dec. 76 (12):1810-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Villanueva-Fernández E, Casanueva-Muruáis R, Vivanco-Allende A, Llorente JL, Coca-Pelaz A. Role of steroids in conservative treatment of parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess in children. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Nov. 279 (11):5331-5338. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

26. Suryadevara AC, Kellman RM. Incision and drainage of a retropharyngeal abscess located adjacent to C1 with InstaTrak image guidance. Laryngoscope. 2006 Mar. 116 (3):499-501. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Vijay A Patel, MD Associate Physician, Rhinology and Cranial Base Surgery, Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology, Division of Otolaryngology, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine

Vijay A Patel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: ALD-PES Honors Society, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Rhinologic Society, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, North American Skull Base Society, Penn State Medical Alumni Association, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, The Triological Society, UCLA Alumni Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Christopher J Gates, BS West Virginia University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michele M Carr, DDS, MD, PhD, MEd Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Michele M Carr, DDS, MD, PhD, MEd is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John E McClay, MD, FAAP Associate Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital of Dallas, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

John E McClay, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ravindhra G Elluru, MD, PhD Professor, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine; Pediatric Otolaryngologist, Department of Otolaryngology, Dayton Children's Hospital Medical Center

Ravindhra G Elluru, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bronchoesophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children, Triological Society, American Society for Cell Biology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rahul K Shah, MD, FACS, FAAP Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics, Associate Surgeon-in-Chief, Medical Director, Peri-operative Services, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Attending Physician, Department of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center

Rahul K Shah, MD, FACS, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Medical Quality, American Association for Physician Leadership, American College of Surgeons, Triological Society, Massachusetts Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jason L Acevedo, MD Otoloaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon

Jason L Acevedo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Todd J Berger, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University

Todd J Berger is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Orval Brown, MD Director of Otolaryngology Clinic, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Orval Brown, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bronchoesophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hosseinali Shahidi, MD, MPH Assistant Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, State University of New York and Health Science Center at Brooklyn

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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