title: Limitations of imaging for foreign bodies in parapharyngeal abscess and the importance of surgical exploration.
abstract: A rare cause of parapharyngeal abscess in association with a wooden skewer is presented. Despite the use of both ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scanning as diagnostic tools, the foreign body could not be identified. Only through a meticulous exploration of the neck was the foreign body located. The importance of surgical exploration even with negative imaging is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: U F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Coales
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hinton
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed