Differentiation of retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis and retropharyngeal abscess: a case series and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis (RCT) is a self-limiting aseptic inflammation of the tendon of the longus colli muscle, which can be clinically and radiologically misdiagnosed as abscess formation. This is a particular challenge for ENT specialists. However, articles about RCT are highly underrepresented in ENT journals and existing articles in ENT journals almost exclusively report overtreatment.

Methods

This study presents five patients, in which the diagnosis of RCT was delayed and of which one patient underwent incision and draining of a suspected retropharyngeal abscess under general anesthesia. In addition, the literature on the reported cases of RCT, between 1990 and 2020 was reviewed. For each case, epidemiological characteristics, complaints on pres

SUBMITTER: Langner S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7410824 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature