Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Sep;101(8):NP345-NP347. doi: 10.1177/0145561320971370. Epub 2020 Nov 6.
Our understanding of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is growing; yet, there remains much we do not understand, and unique presentations are abundant. One potential presentation is retropharyngeal edema, defined as fluid in the retropharyngeal space. Multiplanar imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is ideal for characterizing and diagnosing these fluid collections rapidly as possible life-threatening complications may develop (eg, airway obstruction and mediastinitis). Here, we discuss the presentation, imaging identification, treatment, and recovery of retropharyngeal fluid collection in 2 COVID-19 cases. The significance of this article is to suggest conservative management as a viable treatment option for retropharyngeal fluid collection, as opposed to incision and drainage, in the setting of COVID-19.
我们对新型冠状病毒（COVID-19）的认识在不断加深，但仍有许多未解之谜，而且其表现形式也多种多样。一种潜在的表现形式是咽后间隙水肿，即咽后间隙内的液体。计算机断层扫描或磁共振成像的多平面成像对于快速描述和诊断这些积液非常理想，因为可能会出现危及生命的并发症（例如气道阻塞和纵隔炎）。在这里，我们讨论了 2 例 COVID-19 患者咽后积液的表现、影像学识别、治疗和恢复情况。本文的意义在于建议在 COVID-19 背景下，将保守治疗作为咽后积液的可行治疗选择，而不是切开引流。
