Felix Ruiz de la Cuesta1, Ernesto Cortes Castell2, Maria Emilia Garcia Ruiz3, Guillermo Severa Ferrandiz4. 1. Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España. Electronic address: fruizdelacuesta@gmail.com. 2. Departamento de Farmacología, Pediatría y Química Orgánica, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, España. 3. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España. 4. Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Deep neck space abscesses in infants are clinical entities of great importance due to their severity and possible complications. The aim of the study is to review our experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of deep neck space abscesses, and compare it with published literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study was carried out on all patients diagnosed and treated for deep neck space abscesses over a 15-year period (2002-2016), including an analysis of the demographic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 72 cases were diagnosed. An increase was observed in their incidence in recent years. The most frequent locations were peri-tonsillar (30.6%), followed by swollen lymph nodes (18.1%), parapharyngeal (16.7%), and retropharyngeal (16.7%). The least frequent were submandibular abscesses (12.5%) and parotid abscesses (5.6%). The distribution was different according to age (P<.001). The most frequent clinical symptom was fever (70.8%), followed by odynophagia (55.56%). The most used imaging tests were CT (50.7%) and ultrasound (28.2%). The treatment used was pharmacological in 11.1%, all of them abscessed swollen lymph nodes of less than 1.5cm in maximum size. The other 88.9% underwent surgery. There was recurrence in 12.5% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of tonsillectomy and/or early cervicotomy in abscesses larger than 2cm or lesions of deep location decreases the number of serious complications and does not have recurrences. When using more conservative surgery, there were 12.5% of recurrences.
INTRODUCTION: Deep neck space abscesses in infants are clinical entities of great importance due to their severity and possible complications. The aim of the study is to review our experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of deep neck space abscesses, and compare it with published literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study was carried out on all patients diagnosed and treated for deep neck space abscesses over a 15-year period (2002-2016), including an analysis of the demographic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 72 cases were diagnosed. An increase was observed in their incidence in recent years. The most frequent locations were peri-tonsillar (30.6%), followed by swollen lymph nodes (18.1%), parapharyngeal (16.7%), and retropharyngeal (16.7%). The least frequent were submandibular abscesses (12.5%) and parotid abscesses (5.6%). The distribution was different according to age (P<.001). The most frequent clinical symptom was fever (70.8%), followed by odynophagia (55.56%). The most used imaging tests were CT (50.7%) and ultrasound (28.2%). The treatment used was pharmacological in 11.1%, all of them abscessed swollen lymph nodes of less than 1.5cm in maximum size. The other 88.9% underwent surgery. There was recurrence in 12.5% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of tonsillectomy and/or early cervicotomy in abscesses larger than 2cm or lesions of deep location decreases the number of serious complications and does not have recurrences. When using more conservative surgery, there were 12.5% of recurrences.
Authors: Alberto Maria Saibene; Fabiana Allevi; Tareck Ayad; Jérome R Lechien; Miguel Mayo-Yáñez; Krzysztof Piersiala; Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba Journal: Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital Date: 2022-04 Impact factor: 2.618