Mediastinitis - a rare complication of a peritonsillar abscess

Abstract

AbstractWe report a case of mediastinitis, in an otherwise healthy 25-year-old man, resulting from a peritonsillar abscess with extension through the parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal spaces.In our case the patient was primarily treated with needle aspiration, a method described in many publications as a safe alternative to incision and drainage.We emphasize that for peritonsillar abscesses a tonsillectomy or wide incision and drainage, instead of needle aspiration, might prevent the extension of the condition, thus preventing serious complications.