A Case of Retropharyngeal Abscess Secondary to Pyogenic Spondylitis

Abstract

Despite the reduction antibiotics have made in retropharyngeal abscess because of development in antibiotics, this condition must be rapidly diagnosed and adequately treated due to its potential lethality. We report a case of retropharyngeal abscess extending from the radix linguae to the mediastinum secondary to pyogenic spondylitis. A 70-year-old woman with untreated diabetes mellitus and administered steroid hormones for myalgia had potentially lethal multifocal abcesses, including spinal epidural and retroperitoneal lesions. Following emergency surgical drainage and the care of specialists, she recovered and was discharged without sequelae, paralysis, or dysphagia. Early surgical drainage is effective in ameliorating severe retropharyngeal abscess, for which early rehabilitation and swallowing training is important.