[A Pediatric Case of Retropharyngeal Abscess Causing Multiple Instances of Cranial Nerve Palsy]

Deep neck abscesses are relatively rare in children compared with adults. Diagnosis can be difficult in pediatric patients because of the various clinical symptoms, therefore, it is important to correctly understand the pathology. We report herein on a rare pediatric case of a deep neck abscess that caused multiple instances of cranial nerve palsy. The patient was a 7-year-old boy who, despite treatment by a local physician for fever, swelling of the left neck and neck pain, developed torticollis, dysarthria, dysphagia and hoarseness and consequently consulted our department. We observed palsy associated with the IX, X, and XII left cranial nerves and a retropharyngeal abscess was diagnosed based on the computed tomography findings. The patient was hospitalized and underwent conservative treatment, and on day 21 of hospitalization, the patient was discharged after his symptoms had eased and the size of the abscess had reduced. We believe that palsy of the cranial nerves in the present case occurred as a result of pressure being applied to the cranial nerves in the carotid space due to an abscess in the retropharyngeal space.