title: Radiologic diagnosis of epiglottitis: objective criteria for all ages.
abstract: A retrospective study was undertaken to define objective radiologic parameters in diagnosing epiglottitis on soft-tissue lateral neck radiographic studies. Ratios of soft-tissue structures in 31 patients aged 7 months to 61 years with epiglottitis were compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls with croup, pharyngitis, and dysphagia. The ratios of epiglottic width to third cervical vertebral body width (EW/C3W) of more than 0.5, of aryepiglottic width to third cervical vertebral body width (AEW/C3W) of more than 0.35, and of epiglottic width to epiglottic height (EW/EH) of 0.6 or more were all found to be 100% sensitive and specific in differentiating between adult patients with and without epiglottitis. In children, EW/C3W, AEW/C3W, and EW/EH ratios of more than 0.5, of more than 0.35, and of 0.6 or more, respectively, were found to be 100% sensitive in detecting epiglottitis with specificities of 87%, 96%, and 87% respectively. These preliminary results suggest that EW/C3W, EW/EH, and AEW/C3W ratios of more than 0.5, of 0.6 or more, and of more than 0.35, respectively, may be useful in the radiologic diagnosis of epiglottitis in patients of all ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, California 92350.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Rothrock
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Pignatiello
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies