Peritonsillarlike lateral oropharyngeal abscess after tonsillectomy.

Peritonsillar abscess is a well-known sequela of acute tonsillitis. However, not so well known is the occurrence of a peritonsillarlike oropharyngeal abscess in patients with previous tonsillectomy. No case report or review exists in the American medical literature. We present four cases of abscess after tonsillectomy and a review of the world literature. A discussion of the evaluation and treatment of posttonsillectomy abscess based on these cases is included. An attempt is made to alert the practitioner to the fact that patients who have undergone tonsillectomy can develop peritonsillarlike oropharyngeal abscesses.