title: Peritonsillar abscess with parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal involvement: incidence and intraoral approach.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrates common sites of infection seen in peritonsillar abscesses with involvement of the pharyngeal space and retropharyngeal space. Abscesses behind and/or inferior to the tonsil were encountered more frequently than expected. In these cases, the drainage had to be placed in the inferior pole of the tonsil and these types were frequently seen in older patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess to what extent abscesses spread in patients with peritonsillar abscess and to determine to what extent pus can be drained intraorally.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical charts of 45 patients with peritonsillar abscess involvement of the parapharyngeal space and/or retropharyngeal space were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 45 cases, 21 patients were diagnosed with the superior type, and we could drain the pus intraorally in 90% of the patients. On the other hand, 24 cases were diagnosed with the inferior type and they were drained intraorally in 58% of the cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hitachi General Hospital, 2-1-1 Jyonantyo, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. hiroko.monobe@ibabyo.hitachi.co.jp
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monobe
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tojima
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013396:Suction