[Parapharyngeal abscess as the cause of torticollis].

The combination of parapharyngeal abscess and torticollis in an adult on account of spastic contraction of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle is an extremely rare condition. The present authors have recently observed a case of this type where the diagnosis was difficult to establish. CT of the neck revealed the diagnosis with no difficulty. The indication for CT at an early stage in cases of unexplained neck infections is stressed.