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Retropharyngeal Abscess
Retropharyngeal abscess is usually seen in infants or young children. It may be caused by an upper respiratory
tract infection that results in adenitis in the retropharyngeal nodes, which then suppurate and form an abscess.
The abscess is limited to one side of the midline because of the median raphe of the buccopharyngeal fascia.
Acute retropharyngeal abscess results from suppuration of retropharyngeal lymph nodes from infected
tonsil, adenoid, tooth or penetrating foreign body. It is more common in children. Acute abscesses are
most often caused by: [1]
Beta-haemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus parainfluenzae.
Anaerobic organisms - eg, Bacteroides spp.
Early recognition and aggressive management are essential because there is a significant morbidity
and mortality.
Chronic retropharyngeal abscess is rare but is usually due to tuberculosis of the spine. [2]

Epidemiology
Uncommon and occurs much less commonly today than in the past because of the widespread use
of antibiotics for suppurative upper respiratory infections.
Once almost exclusively a disease of children, but is now seen increasingly in adults.

Presentation
Acute retropharyngeal abscess presents with severe sore throat, dysphagia, trismus, stridor, dribbling
of saliva, and a high fever. It may rapidly progress to airway obstruction.
It is usually seen in an infant or young child with high fever, agitation, neck pain, malaise, fever,
dysphagia, drooling, cough, respiratory distress, and stridor. [3]
There is a stiff neck with the head tilted to one side. There is a smooth bulge on one side of the midline
of the posterior pharyngeal wall. Associated signs include tonsillitis, peritonsillitis, pharyngitis and otitis
media.
Symptoms in adults: sore throat, fever, dysphagia, neck pain, and dyspneoa.
Physical signs in adults: posterior pharyngeal oedema, neck stiffness, cervical adenopathy, fever,
drooling, and stridor.

Differential diagnosis
Retropharyngeal cellulitis.
Angio-oedema.
Dental infections.
Epiglottitis.
Foreign bodies.
Pharyngeal pouch.
Mediastinitis.
Infectious mononucleosis.
Otitis media, pharyngitis, pneumonia.
Croup.
Peritonsillar abscess.

Investigations [1]
FBC: white cell count very high.
C-reactive protein (CRP) may also be very high.
Blood cultures: but often negative.

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Culture of pus aspirated at the time of surgical drainage.
Lateral neck X-ray (lateral neck X-ray findings may be misleading, especially in young children):
Increased prevertebral soft tissue shadow.
Air and fluid level in the prevertebral area.
Concavity or straightening of the cervical vertebral column.
The air column is pushed forward.
CT scan of the neck with intravenous (IV) contrast:
Retropharyngeal abscess appears as a hypodense lesion in the retropharyngeal space with
peripheral ring enhancement.
Obtain a CT scan of the neck with IV contrast when the findings on the lateral neck X-ray
are equivocal but CT scan of the neck with IV contrast can also differentiate between
retropharyngeal abscess and cellulitis.
The CT scan also shows the extent of the abscess and its relation to the great vessels.
CXR: to identify aspiration pneumonia and mediastinitis.

Management [4]
Oxygen and attention to maintaining upper airway patency. If a patient with signs of upper airway
obstruction cannot be intubated, a surgical or needle cricothyrotomy may be required. A tracheostomy
may also be required; however, this is rare. [5]
IV fluids are required if the patient is dehydrated because of fever and difficulty with swallowing.
The patient should be seen by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist as soon as the diagnosis is
established.
Peroral surgical drainage of the abscess by incision under anaesthetic (or without anaesthetic in an
emergency) is often required. [6] An ENT specialist may also perform a tracheostomy if required.
Surgery may be required urgently but not all patients with retropharyngeal abscesses require
surgery. [7] One study found that of 162 paediatric patients with retropharyngeal abscess, 126 required
surgery initially and, of the 36 patients initially treated conservatively with high-dose antibiotics, 17
required surgery. [4]
High-dose antibiotics: initially, high-dose IV ampicillin, clindamycin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone,
metronidazole or co-amoxiclav and, later, changed if necessary in line with culture results and clinical
progress. Clindamycin has also been shown to be an effective initial treatment. [8] Combination
regimens of these antibiotics may be necessary (eg, ceftriaxone plus metronidazole, or clindamycin
plus cefuroxime). [9]

Complications
Airway obstruction.
Mediastinitis.
Pericarditis.
Aspiration pneumonia.
Epidural abscess.
Septicaemia.
Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Erosion of the second and third cervical vertebrae.
Cranial nerve IX and/or XII deficits.
Septic thrombosis of the jugular vein or haemorrhage secondary to erosion into the carotid artery,

Prognosis [10]
Prognosis is generally good if the condition is diagnosed early, is managed promptly and effectively
and if no complications occur.
Mortality rate may be as high as 40-50% if any serious complications do occur.

Further reading & references

1. Reilly BK, Reilly JS; Retropharyngeal abscess: diagnosis and treatment update. Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2012
Aug;12(4):291-6.

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2. Kamath MP, Bhojwani KM, Kamath SU, et al; Tuberculous retropharyngeal abscess. Ear Nose Throat J. 2007
Apr;86(4):236-7.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Schuler PJ, Cohnen M, Greve J, et al; Surgical management of retropharyngeal abscesses. Acta Otolaryngol. 2009
Nov;129(11):1274-9. doi: 10.3109/00016480802642088.
6. Philpott CM, Selvadurai D, Banerjee AR; Paediatric retropharyngeal abscess. J Laryngol Otol. 2004 Dec;118(12):919-26.
7. Daya H, Lo S, Papsin BC, et al; Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal infections in children: the Toronto Int J Pediatr
Otorhinolaryngol. 2005 Jan;69(1):81-6.
8. Al-Sabah B, Bin Salleen H, Hagr A, et al; Retropharyngeal abscess in children: 10-year study. J Otolaryngol. 2004
Dec;33(6):352-5.
9. 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. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e318256fff0.
10. Marques PM, Spratley JE, Leal LM, et al; Parapharyngeal abscess in children: five year retrospective study. Braz J
Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Nov-Dec;75(6):826-30.

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conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its
accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
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Original Author:
Dr Colin Tidy

Current Version:
Dr Roger Henderson

Peer Reviewer:
Dr Helen Huins

Document ID:
1021 (v23)

Last Checked:
02/01/2015

Next Review:
01/01/2020

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