[The role of CT in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses after Punctio Sicca]. / Stellenwert der Computertomografie in der Peritonsillarabszessdiagnostik nach Punctio sicca.

BACKGROUND: Peritonsillar abscesses are considered to be complications of a peritonsillar inflammation and are a frequently occurring condition. Often, to confirm the presence of an abscess and to locate it following a dry-tap aspirate, computed tomography (CT) is performed. No validated data has been published to date concerning the role of CT in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, the records of patients presenting at a German university hospital with a suspected peritonsillar abscess between 2006 and 2011 were evaluated. A particular focus was placed on the diagnostic procedure for patients with dry tap. The CT images were evaluated by 2 neuroradiologists. RESULTS: 310 patients with a suspected peritonsillar abscess from the period 2006­2011 were evaluated. In 51 cases (31 male and 20 female patients; 16.5 %), a dry tap was found to have occurred. Of these, in 42 patients (82.3 %) a CT scan was performed to rule out or locate an abscess. In 36 patients (85.7 %), an abscess was verified by CT imaging. CONCLUSION: Where there are clinical grounds for suspecting a peritonsillar abscess, and where a dry tap occurs, our data indicate that performing a CT scan to verify and locate an abscess is an effective diagnostic procedure. However, greater attention should be paid to additional diagnostic methods.