[Use of X-ray computed tomography in cervical infections]

Infections of face and neck represent serious and potentially life threatening conditions that are sometimes difficult to differentiate from neoplastic tumours, especially in subacute clinical forms. Conventional radiographic techniques offer interest for cervical masses, except Ultra-Sonographic exam, in sites regarding vascular axes, but carries little value for evaluating their spread into the different cervical spaces. On the other hand, C.T. is valuable to precise the location and the extent and to determine its inflammatory nature by studying the fats and the aponeurosis around it. It help in the analysis of associated adjacent signs: soft tissue swelling, extensive obliteration of adjacent fats, swelling of cervical aponeurosis, thickening of adjacent muscles. These findings are documented by the study of fourteen patients, admitted in St-Antoine hospital. All abscesses, except one, were easy to diagnose because of their low central attenuation. False negative cases are possible and noted by other authors. So, in absence of response to appropriate therapy, surgery is necessary to eliminate a misdiagnosed abscess. Furthermore, it's sometimes possible to suspect an etiology (foreign body, tuberculosis).