title: Mediastinitis-a rare complication of a peritonsillar abscess.
abstract: We report a case of mediastinitis, in an otherwise healthy 25-year-old man, resulting from a peritonsillar abscess with extension through the parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal spaces. In our case the patient was primarily treated with needle aspiration, a method described in many publications as a safe alternative to incision and drainage. We emphasize that for peritonsillar abscesses a tonsillectomy or wide incision and drainage, instead of needle aspiration, might prevent the extension of the condition, thus preventing serious complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hillerød Sygehus, Denmark.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Andreassen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy