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Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is an abscess located in the tissues in the back of the throat behind the posterior pharyngeal wall (the retropharyngeal space). Because RPAs typically occur in deep tissue, they are difficult to diagnose by physical examination alone.
The final structure of the abscess is an abscess wall, or capsule, that is formed by the adjacent healthy cells in an attempt to keep the pus from infecting neighboring structures. However, such encapsulation tends to prevent immune cells from attacking bacteria in the pus, or from reaching the causative organism or foreign object.
The most usual signs and symptoms are the appearance of a chronic, painless mass in the neck, which is persistent and usually grows with time.The mass is referred to as a "cold abscess", because there is no accompanying local color or warmth and the overlying skin acquires a violaceous (bluish-purple) color.
As the abscess develops, persistent pain in the peritonsillar area, fever, a general sense of feeling unwell, headache, and a distortion of vowels informally known as "hot potato voice" may appear. Neck pain associated with tender, swollen lymph nodes , referred ear pain and foul breath are also common.
A parapharyngeal abscess is a deep neck space abscess of the parapharyngeal space (or pharyngomaxillary space), which is lateral to the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and medial to the masseter muscle. [1] This space is divided by the styloid process into anterior and posterior compartments.
Adopting a forward head and rounded shoulders posture places increased stress on the neck (cervical spine), mid-back (thoracic spine) and low back (lumbar spine), Dr. Halfman explains.
The danger space or alar space, is a region of the neck. [1] The common name originates from the risk that an infection in this space can spread directly to the thorax, and, due to being a space continuous on the left and right, can furthermore allow infection to spread easily to either side.
Lymph nodes may become enlarged in malignant disease. This cervical lymphadenopathy may be reactive or metastatic. [1] Alternatively, enlarged lymph nodes may represent a primary malignancy of the lymphatic system itself, such as lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's), [6] lymphocytic leukemia, [1] Lymphadenopathy that lasts less than two weeks or more than one year with no progressive ...