Retropharyngeal abscess sequel to swallowed mead bone

Abstract

A 5 year old boy had meat bone traumatically dislodged from his pharynx by his mother. A retropharyngeal abscess developed five days later. Diagnosis was made on lateral xray of the neck. The abscess was successfully drained. Culture of abscess yielded Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Complications of retropharyngeal abscess and modes of diagnosis are discussed.

Keywords: retropharyngeal, abscess, meat bone, radiology, diagnosis

West African Journal of Radiology Vol. 13(1) 2006: 18-21