Symptom duration and CT findings in pediatric deep neck infection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether children with less than 48 hours of localized symptoms of deep neck infection are less likely to have an abscess on CT scan.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
The charts of children seen in a tertiary children's hospital for deep neck infections between 2000 and 2007 were reviewed.


RESULTS
Of 179 children identified, 167 (93.3%) underwent a CT scan of the neck of which 102 (61.1%) were positive for abscess. There was no significant difference in the rate of abscess on CT between children with less than 48 hours of localizing symptoms and 48 or more hours of symptoms at 58.1 percent and 58.3 percent, respectively (P = 0.98). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in age, gender, C-reactive protein levels, disease location, or length of stay between children with and without abscess on CT. White blood cell counts were significantly higher in the abscess group (P = 0.01); however, the median white blood cell count in both groups was above normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Because duration of symptoms does not predict finding of abscess on CT, it is appropriate to obtain a CT scan upon presentation in all children with symptoms concerning for neck abscess.
Meyer
Abby C
AC
University of Minnesota, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Minneapolis, MN, USA. stri0106@umn.edu
Kimbrough
Tyler G
TG
Finkelstein
Marsha
M
Sidman
James D
JD
D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000382:microbiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed