Retropharyngeal abscess in adults

ABSTRACT

Retropharyngeal or prevertebral abscesses are less common in adults than in children. Acute variety is mostly seen in children, while the chronic variety, essentially prevertebral collection of pus resulting from tuberculosis of cervical spine, is seen in adults. Four cases of retropharyngeal or prevertebral abscess in adults are presented. The first one is an acute retropharyngeal abscess due to Staphylococcus aureus, the other case is due to a perforating foreign body while the remaining two cases are due to tuberculosis of cervical spine