Percutaneous CT-guided aspiration of deep neck abscesses.

Four patients with deep neck or retropharyngeal abscesses underwent CT-guided aspiration and drainage from either of two percutaneous approaches. Percutaneous drainage contributed to prompt and/or dramatic clinical responses in all four patients by effecting decompression of the abscess cavities and by improving the ability to assess infectious organisms. There were no complications in this small group. Precutaneous drainage obviated more traditional invasive surgery.