What this deck covers
Peritonsillar & Retropharyngeal Abscess in ten clinical teaching cases with worked explanations. Each case gives you a clinical vignette, four options, the correct answer, and an explanation of why each of the other three is wrong.
Diagnoses and management options tested
Across the ten cases you are asked to choose between options such as: Uvular deviation to the contralateral side, Bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, History of recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis, Superior pharyngeal constrictor, Palatoglossus muscle, Internal pterygoid muscle, Digastric muscle, The palatine tonsil and the palatopharyngeal arch, The palatoglossus and palatopharyngeal muscles, The buccopharyngeal fascia and the prevertebral fascia, Neck hyperextension and respiratory stridor, Unilateral palatal swelling, Trismus and muffled voice, History of recent dental procedure, Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck, Lateral neck radiograph in extension, Bedside ultrasound of the oropharynx, Anteroposterior chest x-ray, Retropharyngeal abscess, Peritonsillar cellulitis, Acute epiglottitis, Bacterial tracheitis, Emergent tonsillectomy (quinsy tonsillectomy), External neck incision and drainage, Observation with intravenous antibiotics only, Needle aspiration or incision and drainage.
Clinical pearls from this deck
- PTA is almost always unilateral: pus in the peritonsillar space pushes the uvula toward the opposite side and bulges the soft palate. Add the “hot-potato” voice and drooling and you have the classic picture. Simple pharyngitis is bilateral with diffuse erythema — exudates, bilateral nodes, and a strep history do not localize a PTA.
- Trismus in PTA comes from reflex spasm/irritation of the adjacent internal (medial) pterygoid muscle. It is a key sign separating abscess from peritonsillar cellulitis, where mouth opening is preserved. Severe trismus can make oral exam impossible and push you toward CT.
The ten worked cases in this deck, with the images and the full explanation of every option, are part of Pediatric Case Review membership. See what is included.
More from this system: all ent decks and question sets · pediatric reference values.
