title: [Neck pain in children can be caused by a retropharyngeal abscess].
abstract: A six-year-old boy presented with fever, neck pain, and ear pain. Within days, the motility of his neck limited, his temperature rose, and blood samples showed signs of infection. On suspicion of cervical spondylodiscitis, a bone scintigraphy was performed, but gave negative results. A magnetic resonance imaging of the neck area showed results, which led to the diagnosis of a retropharyngeal abscess. This case is a reminder that retropharyngeal abscess poses a diagnostic challenge for the physician, and that the prognosis is potentially serious.
authors.affiliation: Børneafdelingen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark. annmariemalby@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ann-Marie Malby
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schoos
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Damgaard
authors.forename: Eva Mosfeldt
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jeppesen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D004322:Drainage; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media