Pediatrik Dev Retrofarengeal Abse (İnsidental tanı)

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 53 - 55, 31.08.2025

Nuri Ünsal , Altan Kaya , Serap Bulut Çöbden , Yunus Kantekin , Ali Bayram , Mehmet Yaşar

Abstract

Retrofarengeal abseler, özellikle pediatrik yaş grubunda ve çoğunlukla 4 yaş altındaki çocuklarda görülen,
nadir fakat ciddi komplikasyonlara yol açabilen derin boyun enfeksiyonlarıdır. Semptomların silik olması
ve fizik muayenede patolojik bulguların belirgin olmaması, tanının gecikmesine neden olabilmektedir. Bu olgu
sunumunda, 7 aylık bir erkek hastada bronşiolit ön tanısıyla takip edilirken, yoğun bakım sürecinde internal
juguler kateterizasyonu sırasında fark edilen boyun bölgesinden püy gelişi sonrası görüntüleme ile tanı alan
dev retrofarengeal abse vakası sunulmuştur. Hastaya kontrastlı bilgisayarlı tomografi ile tanı konmuş, ardından
cerrahi drenaj uygulanmıştır. Postoperatif süreçte antibiyotik tedavisi ile klinik iyileşme sağlanmış ve hasta
taburcu edilmiştir. Bu vaka, pediatrik yaş grubunda retrofarengeal abselerin ayırıcı tanıda akılda tutulması
gerektiğini ve klinik şüphe durumunda görüntüleme yöntemlerinden kaçınılmaması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Retrofarengeal abse , Derin boyun enfeksiyonu , Üst hava yolu obstrüksiyonu

Pediatric Giant Retropharyngeal Abscess: An Incidental Diagnosis

Abstract

Retropharyngeal abscesses are rare but potentially serious deep neck infections, particularly seen in the pediatric
population, most commonly in children under the age of four. The nonspecific nature of symptoms and the absence
of evident findings on physical examination often lead to delayed diagnosis. In this case report, we present a
7-month-old male infant who was initially followed with a presumptive diagnosis of bronchiolitis. During the
intensive care follow-up, purulent discharge observed at the site of internal jugular catheterization prompted
further evaluation, leading to the diagnosis of a large retropharyngeal abscess through imaging. The diagnosis
was confirmed with contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and surgical drainage was subsequently performed.
Clinical improvement was achieved postoperatively with antibiotic therapy, and the patient was discharged in
good condition. This case highlights the importance of considering retropharyngeal abscesses in the differential
diagnosis in pediatric patients and emphasizes the necessity of early imaging in cases of clinical suspicion.

Keywords

Retropharyngeal abscess , Deep neck infection , Upper airway obstruction

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