title: Retropharyngeal abscess due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a case of acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: We describe a case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) complicated with retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a 56-year-old man. After administration of vancomycin and lavage of the retropharyngeal space with gentamicin, complete resolution of the RPA was observed. Despite their lower frequency, deep neck infections are associated with high mortality rates. The possibility of RPA should be considered in patients who present with fever, dysphagia and limitation of neck extension. Lavage of the retropharyngeal abscess with gentamicin may be optimal in cases of large RPA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toshima
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muroi
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Keiya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozawa
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014640:Vancomycin