title: CT and ultrasound imaging of retropharyngeal abscesses in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show the role of ultrasound (US) in distinguishing retropharyngeal abscess from adenitis in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven infants and children had clinical symptoms suggestive of retropharyngeal infection. Radiographic evaluation included, lateral neck radiography (11/11), contrast-enhanced neck CT (10/11), contrast-enhanced neck MR (1/11), and real time US (11/11) patients. US was used to characterize masses as solid (adenitis) or complex (abscess) and for guiding intraoperative aspiration and drainage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrast CT and MR showed findings suspicious for abscess in all 11 cases. Only three children had surgically drainable abscesses. CT numbers within inflammatory masses did not distinguish adenitis from abscess. US was able to correctly diagnose abscess or adenitis in each case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lateral neck radiography and contrast CT identify and localize retropharyngeal inflammatory masses in children. US, but not CT, distinguishes between adenitis and abscess and aids in intraoperative aspiration and drainage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock 72202.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Glasier
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mancias
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Leithiser
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Seibert
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Seibert
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography