Computed tomography in the diagnosis of deep-neck infections.
Computed tomography (CT) of the neck was used to identify deep-neck abscess formation. Twenty-two patients were screened by CT for deep-neck abscesses. Each patient suspected of having a deep-neck infection underwent CT, often with enhancement if the differential diagnosis included the possibility of a tumor or vascular lesion. Six cases were identified, and these patients were taken to surgery for incision and drainage. There were no false-positives or false-negatives in the series. In all six cases of abscesses, the CT scan accurately identified the anatomical location of the abscess, allowing a more accurate planning of the surgical approach. The selective use of CT when deep-neck infections are suspected seems to produce an accurate diagnosis of the presence of an abscess, its location, and the involvement of important surrounding structures.
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed