title: Infectious arteritis of the internal carotid artery complicating retropharyngeal abscess.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retropharyngeal abscess is a well-known entity in children, but can also occur in adults. The two main vascular complications are vascular compression and pseudoaneurysm, while infectious arteritis of the internal carotid artery is exceptional.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors describe a case of a retropharyngeal abscess in an adult woman complicated by infectious arteritis of the internal carotid artery. This rare complication was treated by endovascular occlusion of the internal carotid artery and incision and drainage of the abscess in combination with antibiotic and anticoagulant therapy. The patient did not present any neurological sequelae and follow-up MRI did not reveal any signs of vascular or neurological complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case highlights the importance of thorough examination of imaging performed in the context of deep neck space abscess to detect signs of vascular involvement. Treatment must be aggressive in view of the life-threatening risk of arterial rupture or septic embolism. This is the first reported case of infectious arteritis involving the internal carotid artery complicating retropharyngeal abscess.
authors.affiliation: Service d'otorhinolaryngologie et chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, université Paris 7 Denis-Diderot, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France. Electronic address: quentin_lisan@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lisan
authors.affiliation: Service d'otorhinolaryngologie et chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, université Paris 7 Denis-Diderot, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Service d'otorhinolaryngologie et chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, université Paris 7 Denis-Diderot, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verillaud
authors.affiliation: Service d'otorhinolaryngologie et chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, université Paris 7 Denis-Diderot, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herman
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001167:Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000382:microbiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Endovascular embolization; Infectious arteritis; Internal carotid artery; Retropharyngeal abscess