title: Retropharyngeal and prevertebral spaces: anatomic imaging and diagnosis.
abstract: Cross-sectional imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of the retropharyngeal space (RPS) and the prevertebral space (PVS). Because of their deep location within the neck, lesions arising within these spaces are difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate on clinical examination. This article details the cross-sectional anatomy and imaging appearances of primary and secondary diseases involving the RPS and PVS, including metastasis and spread from adjacent spaces. The role of image-guided biopsy is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuroradiology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77005, USA. matthew.debnam@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: J Matthew
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Debnam
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guha-Thakurta
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D005205:Fascia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed