Stellenwert der computertomografie in der peritonsillarabszessdiagnostik nach punctio sicca

Abstract

The Role of CT in the Diagnosis of Peritonsillar Abscesses after Punctio Sicca Background: Peritonsillar abscesses are considered to be complications of a peritonsillar inflammation and are a frequently occurring condition. Often, to confirm the presence of an abscess and to locate it following a dry-tap aspirate, computed tomography (CT) is performed. No validated data has been published to date concerning the role of CT in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses. Material and Methods: In a retrospective analysis, the records of patients presenting at a German university hospital with a suspected peritonsillar abscess between 2006 and 2011 were evaluated. A particular focus was placed on the diagnostic procedure for patients with dry tap. The CT images were evaluated by 2 neuroradiologists. Results: 310 patients with a suspected peritonsillar abscess from the period 2006-2011 were evaluated. In 51 cases (31 male and 20 female patients; 16.5%), a dry tap was found to have occurred. Of these, in 42 patients (82.3%) a CT scan was performed to rule out or locate an abscess. In 36 patients (85.7%), an abscess was verified by CT imaging. Conclusion: Where there are clinical grounds for suspecting a peritonsillar abscess, and where a dry tap occurs, our data indicate that performing a CT scan to verify and locate an abscess is an effective diagnostic procedure. However, greater attention should be paid to additional diagnostic methods. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.