Pediatric retropharyngeal lymphadenitis: differentiation from retropharyngeal abscess and treatment implications.
OBJECTIVE
Our objectives were to review the retropharyngeal anatomy, define retropharyngeal adenitis and abscess, and determine if CT may guide the clinician in treatment planning for pediatric retropharyngeal infections.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review and CT scan review of 30 children with retropharyngeal infections.


RESULTS
All patients had retropharyngeal adenitis. Average volume of the low-attenuation focus in the medical treatment group was 1.2 cm3. Average volume in the surgical group was 4 cm3. Surgery patients with no purulent findings were then grouped with the medical treatment group; the average volume of the low-attenuation focus in this group was 2.2 cm3. Average volume in the group in which purulence was identified was 4.4 cm3.


CONCLUSIONS
CT can identify patients with retropharyngeal infections who have a high likelihood of being successfully treated with antibiotics alone.


CONCLUSIONS
CT imaging may assist in avoiding unnecessary surgical exploration.
Shefelbine
Sarah E
SE
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0264, USA.
Mancuso
Anthony A
AA
Gajewski
Byron J
BJ
Ojiri
Hiroya
H
Stringer
Scott
S
Sedwick
Jack D
JD
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed