Abstract

Objective: To review the demographic data, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and outcome of parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess.
Methods: Seven cases of retropharyngeal or parapharyngeal abscesses in 2012 were retrospective review at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim, Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Results: There were six adults and one child. Three patients required tracheostomy and three patients with multiple co morbidities passed away despite optimal medical and surgical management.
Conclusions: Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess give a high mortality rate mostly in patients with underlying multiple co morbidities and late presentation to hospital.

Key words: Neck abscess; parapharyngeal; retropharyngeal