title: [A case of spinal epidural abscess associated with retropharyngeal abscess].
abstract: Spinal epidural abscesses are known to occur associated with retropharyngeal abscess, but such cases are few in the literature. We treated a 72-year-old woman who reported pain in the back of the neck. Computed tomography (CT) showed a retropharyngeal abscess extending to the upper neck through the carotid space on the left side and an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a spinal epidural abscess without cervical vertebral osteomyelitis. The abscess was assumed to reach the epidural space along the nerve root through the intervertebral foramen. Since tonsillitis appeared to cause the retropharyngeal abscess, we performed tonsillectomy, and then drained pus through the superior constrictor muscle, effecting a subsequent cure. Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from both the pus and tonsil, and Streptococcus constellatus, a member of the Streptococcus milleri group, from the tonsil. Based on a review of the literature, clinical courses of spinal epidural abscess associated with retropharyngeal abscess are not always simple, as 4 of the 7 cases found demonstrated poor prognosis. Spinal epidural abscess should be considered a critical complication of retropharyngeal abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Fukuoka.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujiyoshi
authors.forename: Kyoya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiomori
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Udaka
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakabe
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makishima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D034365:Streptococcus constellatus