title: Fluid collection in the retropharyngeal space: A wide spectrum of various emergency diseases.
abstract: Fluid collections in the retropharyngeal space (RPS) result from a wide spectrum of diseases, including retropharyngeal abscess, cervical osteomyelitis, and calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle. These conditions should be managed by different specialties; beginning with care in the emergency room, physicians from orthopedics, pediatrics, otolaryngology, and oncology are in charge of the treatment. Since these diseases demonstrate similar fluid collections in the RPS on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the radiologist's diagnosis based on the characteristic imaging findings is very important to identify the primary disease. Also, since some of the diseases require immediate surgical intervention to avoid life-threatening mediastinitis or airway obstruction, radiologists must distinguish these diseases correctly and provide recommendations for their management to physicians. Understanding clinical features and imaging findings of these fluid collections in the RPS is crucial for the best care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan. Electronic address: m04149@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan; Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; Fluid collection; MRI; Retropharyngeal abscess; Retropharyngeal space