Retro-pharyngeal-esophageal Abscess

Overview

The authors describe the case of a retro-pharyngeal-esophageal abscesswhich becamemanifest by dysphagia and, especially, by neurological signs, i.e. by a not quite typical symptomatology.The abscess was not uncovered even by esophageal passage, radidographic examination oresophagoscopy.The correct diagnosis wasestablished bycomputer tomography.The authors discusssuitability and, particularly, the time sequence of the methods of imaging. Sonography does notappear suitable for the diagnosis of the retropharyngeal pathology, it is especially the CT examinationwhich should be done in time. The CT examination is a master method in the diagnosis ofpathology in retropharyngeal andretroesophageal space. It should bemadewithout delay especiallyin cases of uncertainty of in patients with vague clinical symptomatology, such was the describedcase of the 65-year man with diabetes.

Key words:
retropharyngeal space, retropharyngeal abscess, collar mediastinotomy.