Abstract
A retrospective study was performed of 7 infants with deep neck space abscess admitted to the Tenshi Hospital from April 2003 through December 2008. Patients ranged in age from 1 month to 3 years. The most common presenting signs and symptoms were neck swelling and fever. Four patients with retropharyngeal abscess had poor oral intake. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans were obtained in all patients, and an abscess was identified by a low-density core and rim enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in three patients. T2-weighted MRI scans demonstrated the abscesses as high signal intensity masses. The most common regions of deep neck abscess were retropharyngeal (n=4), posterior triangle (n=4), and parapharyngeal spaces (n=3). Four patients had abscesses in more than one fascial space. All patients received intravenous antibiotics and underwent surgical intervention. Two patients underwent only needle aspiration by the cervical approach, and 5 patients underwent incision and drainage: 1 external drainage by the cervical approach, 2 transoral drainage, and 2 combined. Purulent material was identified in all patients. The most frequently cultured pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (n=3) and group A streptococcus (n=2).
