Soft-tissue lateral neck radiography is important for diagnosing acute supraglottitis. This study aimed to determine the objective criteria for a diagnosis of acute supraglottitis from soft-tissue lateral neck radiographs in Korean adults. The parameters in 30 adult patients with acute supraglottitis were compared with those of age- and sex-matched normal 30 Korean adults. The mean of epiglottis width (EW) and aryepiglottic fold width (AEW) in the control group were 4.37 +/- 0.93 mm, 2.45 +/- 0.71 mm, respectively and in the patient group they were 15.87 +/- 3.60 mm, 6.4 +/- 2.55 mm, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of an EW greater than 7mm were 100%, and 100% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of an AEW greater than 4.5 mm were 83%, and 100% respectively.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Epiglottitis/*radiography ; Female ; Human ; Larynx/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Age

PURPOSE: To determine the CT findings and to evaluate the role of CT scanning in adult supraglottitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT findings of five male patients aged between 29 and 69 (mean, 53) years with adult supraglottitis were reviewed and evaluated. Particular attention was focussed on swelling of epiglottis and laryngeal structures, abscess formation and extension of the inflammatory process to adjacent neck spaces. In addition, the findings of CT were compared with those of plain radiography. RESULTS: In all patients, CT revealed swelling of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds, while in four, swelling of the paralaryngeal space was noted. Abscesses in the epiglottis were seen in four patients, and in three of these, small abscesses in the preepiglottic, parapharyngeal, or peritonsillar space or palatine tonsil, were also noted. One patient had an emphysematous epiglottitis, and in three, inflammation extended to adjacent regions of the neck, namely the parapharyngeal, retropharyngeal, submandibular, or peritonsillar space. Plain radiographs gave only restricted information regarding abscess formation and the extension of inflammation to adjacent neck space. CONCLUSION: CT is useful for assessing the extent of adult supraglottitis and for evaluating ensuing complications. It may also be useful for differentiating this condition from other supraglottic diseases, for the planning of treatment, and for evaluating the results of therapy.
Abscess ; Adult* ; Epiglottis ; Epiglottitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Neck ; Palatine Tonsil ; Radiography ; Supraglottitis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed