title: Retropharyngeal involvement in Kawasaki disease--a report of four patients with retropharyngeal edema verified by magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic vasculitis of childhood. The diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. Prognosis with adequate treatment is favorable. Untreated patients, however, may develop coronary manifestations predisposing to acute myocardial infarction. Retropharyngeal edema is a rare but known manifestation of Kawasaki disease. We present a case series of four Kawasaki patients presenting with clinical findings for retropharyngeal abscess and the magnetic resonance imaging findings of these patients, diagnosed during a six week period. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic report of cervical MRI findings of Kawasaki patients.
authors: Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Stenbäckinkatu 11, PL 281, 00029 HUS, Finland. Electronic address: laura.puhakka@hus.fi.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Puhakka
authors: Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District Medical Imaging Centre, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Riste
authors: R
authors: Saat
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Tuomas
authors: T
authors: Klockars
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Lauri
authors: L
authors: Kajosaari
authors: Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Stenbäckinkatu 11, PL 281, 00029 HUS, Finland.
authors: Eeva
authors: E
authors: Salo
authors: Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Stenbäckinkatu 11, PL 281, 00029 HUS, Finland.
authors: Tea
authors: T
authors: Nieminen
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004487:Edema; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: Arthritis; Kawasaki disease; MRI; Retropharyngeal edema