title: Bilateral peritonsillar abscesses: case report and literature review.
abstract: Although unilateral peritonsillar abscesses (PTA) are a common complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis, bilateral PTA are quite rare. We present the case of a 14-year-old female teenager with a 1-week history of acute tonsillitis. Physical examination revealed significant trismus, symmetrically inflamed tonsils and soft palate, and a midline uvula. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the neck demonstrated bilateral PTA. After bilateral needle aspiration and administration of antibiotics, complete disease resolution was rapidly achieved. Patients with bilateral PTA present a diagnostic dilemma because they do not demonstrate the classic asymmetric signs and symptoms seen in the more prevalent unilateral PTA. Contrast-enhanced CT imaging can help diagnose bilateral PTA and should be considered in the presence of marked trismus but with the absence of unilateral inflammatory findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Barton F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Branstetter
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Mandell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications*