title: Parapharyngeal abscess: diagnosis, complications and management in adults.
abstract: Parapharyngeal abscess may cause life-threatening complications. Peritonsillar abscess and tonsillitis may result in parapharyngeal abscess. Since the introduction of antibiotics, the incidence of parapharyngeal abscess secondary to tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess has decreased dramatically. We present five cases of parapharyngeal abscess resulting from tonsillitis and peritonsillar infection extending to the parapharyngeal space in adult patients. Two were complicated by mediastinitis despite early treatment by wide spectrum antibiotics. We believe that early diagnosis and aggressive antibiotic treatment with early surgical drainage in cases associated with pus collection are the key points in preventing serious and fatal complications. We emphasize the diagnostic role of computerized tomography (CT) scan and the importance of early and proper drainage of these abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK. alaani1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alaani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Minhas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olliff
authors.forename: A B Drake
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents