title: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis mimicking retropharyngeal abscess in a Nigerian child.
abstract: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is not an uncommon disease of the aero-digestive tract, usually involving points of narrowing. Involvement of the oropharynx, particularly when florid, may be easily confused with a retropharyngeal abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report of a 1 1/2 year-old child with florid pharyngeal RRP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical presentation and features on radiography of this patient mimicked retropharyngeal abscess. The patient successfully had a preoperative tracheosomy and excision of the RRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a diagnostic dilemma in this patient because of the identical features of the two conditions. A high index of suspicion and painstaking, careful clinical and radiological evaluation is the key to diagnosis and prompt definitive management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan. geoniks@skannet.com
authors.forename: O G B
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Nwaorgu
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ayodele
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Onakoya
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010212:Papilloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis