title: Mediastinal and retropharyngeal abscesses in a neonate.
abstract: Mediastinal abscess following retropharyngeal abscess is a rare entity. We report the first neonate presenting with a large mediastinal abscess as a complication of a retropharyngeal abscess. The initial manifestations of this newborn were fever and stridor. The chest sonography revealed a mediastinal mass, and the neck and chest computed tomography showed multiple abscesses in the retropharyngeal space, parapharyngeal space, and superior mediastinum. The mediastinal cystic mass was excised, and antibiotic treatment was completed for 7 weeks. She did well without any sequelae at follow-up clinic. Pediatricians should consider retropharyngeal and mediastinal abscesses among the differential diagnoses when confronting a newborn with fever and stridor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chao-Jan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Reyin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.forename: Yi-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chien-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Chou
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed