title: Recurrent retropharyngeal abscess.
abstract: An infant had a case of recurrent retropharyngeal abscess. This clinical entity usually follows an upper respiratory tract infection with involvement of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Management includes incision and drainage as the patient's clinical status dictates and may require long-term intravenous antibiotic therapy. A biopsy of the abscess wall, assessment of the patient's immunocompetence, and a search for contributory anatomic defects may be useful. A computed tomographic scan is a valuable technique for diagnosis and follow-up.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed