Retropharyngeal Abscess

Aka: Retropharyngeal Abscess, Parapharyngeal Abscess, Parapharyngeal Space Infection

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II. Definitions

  1. Parapharyngeal Abscess
    1. Purulent collection within pharygeal spaces (lateral pharynx, retropharynx, pretracheal spaces)
    2. Sources include sinuses and middle ear, teeth and Tonsils, as well as Salivary Glands (esp. Parotid Gland)
    3. Oral foreign bodies (e.g. fish bones) may also serve as source
    4. May spread to involve submandibular space (Ludwig's Angina)
  2. Retropharyngeal Abscess
    1. Purulent collection between posterior pharyngeal wall and prevertebral fascia of Cervical Spine
    2. Retropharyngeal space extends from base of skull to posterior mediastinum
      1. Retropharyngeal space contains Lymph Node chains draining the upper respiratory tract
      2. However Retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes often involute by age 4 to 5 years
    3. Retropharyngeal Abscess has 2 major causes
      1. Trauma (25%)
      2. URI spread to retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes (50%)

III. Epidemiology

  1. Most commonly a disease of infants and young children (age <4-6 years old)
    1. Young children have prominent retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes that atrophy after age 5 years
  2. However, can affect older children and adults
    1. Trauma
    2. Airway Foreign Body
    3. Pharyngeal procedures
    4. Adjacent infections

IV. Pathophysiology

  1. Retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes not atrophied in children
  2. Mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora infection transmitted from the more anterior parapharyngeal space
  3. Accumulation of pus in retropharyngeal space

V. Risk Factors

  1. Children under age 6 years
  2. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
    1. URI results in retropharyngeal Lymphadenitis and precedes 50% of Retropharyngeal Abscesses
  3. Upper airway Trauma (see causes below)
  4. Immunocompromised Condition
    1. HIV Infection
    2. Diabetes Mellitus

VI. Causes: Mechanism

  1. Upper Respiratory Infection (more common cause in children)
    1. Sources: Dental Infection, Tonsillitis, parotid Sialadenitis, middle ear infections, Acute Sinusitis
    2. Spreads posteriorly to retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes
  2. Trauma (adults and children)
    1. Vertebral Fracture
    2. Fish bone ingestion
    3. Upper airway instrumentation (Endotracheal Intubation, Nasogastric Tube placement)

VII. Causes: Organisms

  1. Often Polymicrobial
  2. Common Causes
    1. Group A Streptococcus
    2. Viridans Streptococcus
    3. Anaerobic Bacteria (e.g. Fusobacterium)
  3. Less common causes
    1. Staphylococcus Aureus including MRSA (less common)
    2. Haemophilus Influenzae (less common after use of Hib Vaccine)
    3. Tuberculosis (esp. in HIV Infection)
    4. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in high risk groups (e.g. Diabetes Mellitus, IV Drug Abuse, Neutropenia)

VIII. Symptoms

  1. Neck Pain (out of proportion to findings)
    1. Worse with neck extension posteriorly, and patient prefers to hold neck in flexion
    2. Contrast with Epiglottitis and Meningitis in which patient prefers to hold their neck in extension
  2. Dysphagia
  3. Odynophagia
  4. Drooling
  5. Fever
  6. Palliative measures
    1. Patients prefer supine position (less encroachment on airway)

IX. Signs

  1. May be difficult to appreciate pharyngeal fullness
  2. Airway compromise may be present
    1. Respiratory distress (e.g. Tachypnea)
    2. Inspiratory Stridor
    3. Muffled voice or hot potato voice
  3. Neck Pain, stiffness or Torticollis
  4. Trismus

X. Labs

  1. Complete Blood Count
    1. Leukocytosis >12.0 (x10^9/L) present in 91% of cases
  2. Blood Culture

XI. Imaging

  1. Lateral neck XRay
    1. Bulging of posterior pharyngeal wall
    2. Prevertebral soft tissue width increased
      1. C2 level prevertebral space >7 mm (adults and children)
      2. C6 level prevertebral space >14 mm (children) or >22 mm (adults)
    3. False Positive prevertebral widening may occur with less ideal films
      1. Good image requires patient cooperation
      2. Should be exactly lateral position with neck held in normal extension
      3. Should be an inspiratory film
      4. Crying may also cause a False Positive widening
  2. CT Soft Tissue Neck with Contrast or MRI Neck
    1. CT is gold standard (but CT-associated Radiation Exposure, esp. children)
    2. Patient must be stable to be in Radiology Department and to lie flat
    3. CT may demonstrate abscess extent (esp. when performed with contrast)
    4. MRI Neck may also be considered for no radiation (but not typically practical, esp. in Unstable Patient)

XII. Differential Diagnosis

  1. See Pharyngitis Causes
  2. See Stridor
  3. See Pediatric Obstructed Airway Causes
  4. Meningitis (Nuchal Rigidity)
  5. Epiglottitis
  6. Peritonsillar Abscess

XIII. Management

  1. See ABC Management
  2. Airway observation
    1. Endotracheal Intubation required in up to one third of cases
  3. Early, emergent ENT Consultation for surgical drainage
    1. Incision and Drainage in operating room
  4. Intravenous Antibiotics
    1. Duration (total treatment course): 2-3 weeks
    2. Initial empiric Antibiotics
      1. Clindamycin 600-900 mg IV every 8 hours and Levofloxacin 750 mg IV every 24 hours OR
      2. Ceftriaxone 2 g IV every 24 hours AND Metronidazole 1 g IV every 12 hours OR
      3. Ampicillin-Sulbactam (Unasyn) 3 g IV every 6 hours
    3. Staphyococcus aureus detected
      1. Add Vancomycin
    4. Pseudononas coverage
      1. Piperacillin-Tazobactam (Zosyn) 3.375 g IV every 6 hours OR
      2. Cefepime and Metronidazole
  5. Disposition
    1. Hospitalize

XIV. Complications

  1. Airway obstruction (most common fatal complication)
  2. Ludwig's Angina
  3. Atlantoaxial separation (transverse ligament erosion)
  4. Carotid Artery erosion
  5. Jugular Vein thrombosis
    1. Secondary risk of septic Thrombophlebitis (and Lemierre Syndrome)
  6. Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis
    1. Extension of infection from retropharyngeal space posteriorly into the "danger space" (alar space)
    2. Mortality approaches 40%
  7. Meningoencephalitis
  8. Esophageal Perforation
  9. Horner Syndrome
  10. Cranial Nerve palsy (CN 9, CN 10, CN 11, CN 12)

XV. Resources

  1. Stat Pearls
    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441873/

XVI. References

  1. Aldden and Rosenbaum (2017) Emergency Medicine Board Review, Wolters Kluwer
  2. Dahan, Campbell and Melville (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(11): 3-10
  3. Guess and Pittman (2022) Crit Dec Emerg Med 36(7): 12-4
  4. Okuda and Nelson (2015) Emergency Medicine Board Review, Cambridge University Press, New York, p. 103-7
  5. (2020) Sanford Guide, accessed 1/19/2020

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Related Studies

Ontology: Parapharyngeal abscess (C0155842)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
ICD9 478.22
ICD10 J39.0
SnomedCT 84889008
English Abscess, parapharyngeal space, Abscess,lat pharyngeal space, Parapharyngeal abscess NOS, abscess of parapharyngeal space, abscess of parapharyngeal space (diagnosis), Parapharyngeal abscess, Abscess of lateral pharyngeal space, Abscess of parapharyngeal space, Peripharyngeal abscess, Parapharyngeal abscess (disorder), abscess; peripharyngeal, parapharyngeal; abscess, peripharyngeal; abscess
Spanish Absceso parafaríngeo NEOM, Absceso parafaríngeo, absceso parafaríngeo (trastorno), absceso parafaríngeo
Italian Ascesso parafaringeo, Ascesso parafaringeo NAS
French Abcès parapharyngé, Abcès parapharyngé SAI
Dutch parafaryngeaal abces, parafaryngeaal abces NAO, abces; perifaryngeaal, parafaryngeaal; abces, perifaryngeaal; abces
German parapharyngealer Abszess NNB, parapharyngealer Abszess
Portuguese Abcesso parafaríngeo, Abcesso parafaríngeo NE
Japanese 副咽頭間隙膿瘍ＮＯＳ, ﾌｸｲﾝﾄｳｶﾝｹﾞｷﾉｳﾖｳNOS, 副咽頭間隙膿瘍, ﾌｸｲﾝﾄｳｶﾝｹﾞｷﾉｳﾖｳ
Czech Parafaryngeální absces NOS, Parafaryngeální absces
Hungarian parapharyngealis tályog k.m.n., parapharyngealis tályog
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Retropharyngeal Abscess (C0155843)

Definition (MSH) An accumulation of purulent material in the space between the PHARYNX and the CERVICAL VERTEBRAE. This usually results from SUPPURATION of retropharyngeal LYMPH NODES in patients with UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS, perforation of the pharynx, or head and neck injuries.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D017703
ICD9 478.24
SnomedCT 18099001
English Retropharyngeal Abscess, Abscess, Retropharyngeal, Abscesses, Retropharyngeal, Retropharyngeal Abscesses, retropharyngeal abscess, retropharyngeal abscess (diagnosis), Retro-pharyngeal abscess, Retro-pharyngeal abscess NOS, retropharyngeal abscess (physical finding), Retropharyngeal Abscess [Disease/Finding], abscess retropharyngeal, Retropharyngeal abscess, Retropharyngeal abscess (disorder), abscess; retropharyngeal, retropharyngeal; abscess
Swedish Retrofaryngeal abscess
Czech retrofaryngeální absces, Retrofaryngeální absces, Retrofaryngeální absces NOS
Finnish Retrofaryngeaalinen absessi
Russian ABSTSESS RETROFARINGEAL'NYI, ABSTSESS ZAGLOTOCHNYI, RETROFARINGEAL'NYI ABSTSESS, ZAGLOTOCHNYI ABSTSESS, АБСЦЕСС ЗАГЛОТОЧНЫЙ, АБСЦЕСС РЕТРОФАРИНГЕАЛЬНЫЙ, ЗАГЛОТОЧНЫЙ АБСЦЕСС, РЕТРОФАРИНГЕАЛЬНЫЙ АБСЦЕСС
Spanish Absceso retro-faríngeo, Absceso retrofaríngeo, Absceso retrofaríngeo NEOM, absceso retrofaríngeo (trastorno), absceso retrofaríngeo, Absceso Retrofaríngeo
Italian Ascesso retrofaringeo NAS, Ascesso retrofaringeo
French Abcès rétropharyngé SAI, Abcès rétropharyngé, Abcès rétro-pharyngé, Abcès rétro-pharyngien, Abcès rétropharyngien
Dutch retrofaryngeaal abces NAO, retrofaryngeaal abces, abces; retrofaryngeaal, retrofaryngeaal; abces, Abces, retrofaryngeaal, Retrofaryngeaal abces
German Retropharyngealabszess, retro-pharyngealer Abszess NNB, Abszeß, retropharyngealer, Retropharyngealabszeß
Portuguese Abcesso retrofaríngeo NE, Abcesso retrofaríngeo, Abscesso Retrofaríngeo
Japanese ｲﾝｺｳﾉｳﾖｳ, 咽後膿瘍ＮＯＳ, ｲﾝｺｳﾉｳﾖｳNOS, 咽後膿瘍, 咽頭後膿瘍, 後咽頭膿瘍, 膿瘍-咽後, 膿瘍-咽頭後, 膿瘍-後咽頭
Polish Ropień pozagardłowy
Hungarian Retro-pharyngealis abscessus, Retro-pharyngealis abscessus k.m.n., retropharyngealis tályog
Norwegian Retrofaryngeal abscess
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

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