Diagnosis and Treatment of Peritonsillar Abscess with Single Enhanced Computed Tomography
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.01025
- Author:
Kudamo SONG
1
;
Jun LEE
;
So Young CHOI
;
Myoung Su CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eulji University Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. mschoi@eulji.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2018;61(2):99-102
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Diagnostic features of peritonsillar abscess are an asymmetrically enlarged palatine tonsil with peripheral rim enhancement and central low density in the post-contrast computed tomography (CT). Although it is necessary to differentiate tumorous conditions of tonsils to compare pre- and post-contrast CT, pre-contrast CT may be less useful in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess. This study aims to evaluate of the efficacy of single post-contrast CT for diagnosis and treatment of peritonsillar abscess.SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively compared 29 patients with peritonsillar abscess, who were diagnosed by single post-contrast CT, with 36 patients diagnosed by pre- and post-contrast CT to determine the success rates of pus drainage and hospital days. Additionally, two otorhinolaryngologists made a judgment of abscess presence for sixty randomly mixed CT images of peritonsillar abscess or tonsillitis with pre- and post-contrast CT or single post-contrast CT.
RESULTS:There were no significant differences in the success rate of drainage (p=0.622) and hospital days (p=0.504) between groups with/without pre-contrast CT. Abscess presence was judged by raters with/without pre-contrast CT. Inter-rater agreement value (Cohen's kappa) was 0.825 (p<0.01).
CONCLUSION:Single post-contrast CT of peritonsillar abscess may be a good alternative for diagnosis and treatment and may reduce unnecessary exposure to radiation.
