title: Retropharyngeal abscess. A rare presentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Early symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can often be deceptive and confusing. Most patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma present at an advanced stage with metastatic cervical nodes present at the time of diagnosis. A deep neck abscess as the presenting feature has not been reported. We report two cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma which presented with retropharyngeal abscesses and persistent lymphadenopathy. These two patients illustrate that refractory lymphadenopathy, despite adequate treatment of the associated infection, should prompt a search for underlying disease. The relationship between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and retropharyngeal abscess is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Hasselt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed