title: [The role of CT in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses after Punctio Sicca].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritonsillar abscesses are considered to be complications of a peritonsillar inflammation and are a frequently occurring condition. Often, to confirm the presence of an abscess and to locate it following a dry-tap aspirate, computed tomography (CT) is performed. No validated data has been published to date concerning the role of CT in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective analysis, the records of patients presenting at a German university hospital with a suspected peritonsillar abscess between 2006 and 2011 were evaluated. A particular focus was placed on the diagnostic procedure for patients with dry tap. The CT images were evaluated by 2 neuroradiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  310 patients with a suspected peritonsillar abscess from the period 2006–2011 were evaluated. In 51 cases (31 male and 20 female patients; 16.5 %), a dry tap was found to have occurred. Of these, in 42 patients (82.3 %) a CT scan was performed to rule out or locate an abscess. In 36 patients (85.7 %), an abscess was verified by CT imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Where there are clinical grounds for suspecting a peritonsillar abscess, and where a dry tap occurs, our data indicate that performing a CT scan to verify and locate an abscess is an effective diagnostic procedure. However, greater attention should be paid to additional diagnostic methods.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover. teschner.magnus@mhhannover.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teschner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aljeraisi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giesemann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontorinis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014068:Tonsillectomy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents