title: Tuberculous retropharyngeal abscess.
abstract: Chronic retropharyngeal abscess caused by tuberculosis is rare. It should be suspected in a person who presents with a destructive lesion of the vertebra and a retropharyngeal mass. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent the serious complications of the disease. We present the case of a patient who came to our clinic with collapse of the C5-C6 vertebrae and retropharyngeal abscess. We were able to avoid any complications by initiating early surgical drainage and antituberculous therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka State, India. kamathmp@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: M Panduranga
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: Kiran M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bhojwani
authors.forename: Surendra U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: Chakrapani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahabala
authors.forename: Salil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents