title: Fatal epiglottic abscess after radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Acute epiglottitis is a rare condition, especially in adults, largely owing to the widespread vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae. Traumatic epiglottitis as a result of thermal or caustic insults is documented. Epiglottic abscess formation is described as a sequela of epiglottitis in some cases. The development of epiglottic abscess from epiglottitis secondary to radiotherapy has previously been described in the literature; however, there are no reports of fatalities due to epiglottic abscess after radiotherapy. We present an unusual case of an adult sudden death due to epiglottic abscess formation subsequent to radiotherapy for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quagliotto
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milne
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000473:pathology*; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*