Question:medium
Regarding acute retropharyngeal abscess, which of the following is NOT true?
Regarding acute retropharyngeal abscess, which of the following is NOT true?
Show Hint
Acute form is in infants/children; the chronic (TB spine) form is the adult type.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Due to lymphadenitis
- Common in adults
- Swelling on one side of midline
- Incision and drainage
Show Solution
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: This is a negative-stem question, so we hunt for the single wrong statement about the acute type of retropharyngeal abscess.
Step 2: The acute variety is a disease of infants and young children under three years. It develops when the retropharyngeal lymph nodes suppurate after an upper airway infection, giving fever, sore throat, dysphagia and stridor. Calling it common in adults contradicts this, so that choice is the false one.
Step 3: The triggering lymphadenitis is genuine, and because the nodes are paired and off-centre, the swelling bulges to one side of the midline. Both of those statements are correct and therefore are not the answer.
Step 4: Surgical incision and drainage is the standard management, so that statement is also true. The adult equivalent is the chronic abscess linked to tuberculous caries of the cervical spine, which is centrally placed in the midline.
\[\boxed{\text{Common in adults (false statement)}}\]
Step 2: The acute variety is a disease of infants and young children under three years. It develops when the retropharyngeal lymph nodes suppurate after an upper airway infection, giving fever, sore throat, dysphagia and stridor. Calling it common in adults contradicts this, so that choice is the false one.
Step 3: The triggering lymphadenitis is genuine, and because the nodes are paired and off-centre, the swelling bulges to one side of the midline. Both of those statements are correct and therefore are not the answer.
Step 4: Surgical incision and drainage is the standard management, so that statement is also true. The adult equivalent is the chronic abscess linked to tuberculous caries of the cervical spine, which is centrally placed in the midline.
\[\boxed{\text{Common in adults (false statement)}}\]
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