title: [Parapharyngeal abscess and osteomyelitic destruction of the odontoid process].
abstract: We report the case of a 55 year old man with osteomyelitic destruction of the odontoid process and a parapharyngeal abscess. The patient was admitted with diagnosis of meningitis and degenerative cervical spine disease without compression of spinal cord or nerve roots but progressive impairment of cervical spine mobility. Inflammatory parameters in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were detected and antibiotic therapy was initiated resulting in subjective improvement of symptoms. When impairment of cervical spine motility persisted and gait disturbance developed, a parapharyngeal abscess and an osteomyelitic destruction of the odontoid process caused by infection with staphylococcus aureus was diagnosed. After cleavage of the abscess and four months of antibiotic therapy the gait disturbance disappeared and mild impairment of cervical spine motility persisted.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Cark-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover. willenborg.kerstin@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Willenborg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stöver
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents