RT Book, Section A1 Shah, Ashish A1 Sobolewski, Brad A1 Mittiga, Matthew R. A2 Knoop, Kevin J. A2 Stack, Lawrence B. A2 Storrow, Alan B. A2 Thurman, R. Jason SR Print(0) ID 1181044565 T1 Retropharyngeal Abscess T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e YR 2021 FD 2021 PB McGraw-Hill PP New York, NY SN 9781260134940 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181044565 RD 2024/03/29 AB Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) usually presents with fever, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, sore throat, changes in voice, or neck stiffness. Limitation of neck movement on examination, especially with hyperextension, or torticollis will often be seen. The stiff neck may mimic meningitis. The characteristic retropharyngeal edema is a result of cellulitis and suppurative adenitis of the lymph nodes located in the retropharyngeal space between the buccopharyngeal fascia and the alar fascia. It is seen on a soft-tissue lateral x-ray of the neck as prevertebral soft-tissue thickening. The RPA may be preceded by an upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, otitis media, or a wound infection following a penetrating injury to the posterior pharynx. The differential diagnosis includes pharyngitis, acute laryngotracheobronchitis, epiglottitis, membranous (bacterial) tracheitis, cervical adenitis, infectious mononucleosis, peritonsillar abscess, foreign-body aspiration, and diphtheria.