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Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Inflammation, Infection, Education, MR, CT, Head and neck, Ear / Nose / Throat
Authors:
A. Eran, R. Shreter; Haifa/IL
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2016/C-0606
Background
The retropharyngeal space (RPS) extends from the skull base to the upper mediastinum at T1 to T6 level.
It is located posterior to the pharynx and esophagus and anterior to the perivartebral space (FIG 1).
The space is surrounded anteriorly by the pharyngeal mucosal space; laterally by the parapharyngeal and carotid spaces and posteriorly by the danger space and perivertebral spaces.
The space containes areolar fat in its suprahyoid and infrahayoid compartments . Lymph nodes are found only in the suprahyoid portion.
The lymph nodes drain the pharynx,
nasal cavity,
paranasal sinuses and middle ear.
Lymph nodes can be normally found in children. A median raphe may sometimes be seen separating the RPS into two halves (FIG 2).
The "Danger space" is located posterior to the RPS and anterior to the perivertebral space.
The alar fascia (FIG 2) separates the RPS (also called RPS proper) from the danger space that travel all the way to the diaphragm.
Since the alar fascia is an ineffective barrier,
disease can spread from the RPS to the danger space.
Diseases processes affecting this space are uncommon,
but given its deep location,
it might be secondarily involved due to adjacent disease processes; usually this involvement will manifest as fluid collection.
Some diseases might be life threatening and result in significant morbidity,
others are more benign.
The aim of this poster is to show different disease processes causing retropharyngeal edema and discuss the differential diagnosis approach.
Disease processes will be presented according to their etiology (infectious,
neoplastic etc.).