BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Intratonsillar abscess: a rare cause for a common clinical presentation. 2008

Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Department of Otolaryngology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. ecgan@hotmail.com

Intratonsillar abscess is a rare clinical condition in patients who present with odynophagia. We report the case of a 33-year-old man who presented with odynophagia, unilateral tonsillar enlargement with palatal fullness, and deviation of the uvula. Failed attempts at drainage of a presumptive peritonsillar abscess and a worsening of signs and symptoms led to a clinical suspicion of a parapharyngeal abscess. Computed tomography of the neck detected a 2.6 x 2.3-cm intratonsillar abscess. The abscess was drained, and the patient's signs and symptoms resolved. Our review of the current English-language literature revealed that only 8 such cases have been previously reported. We report this new case to increase awareness of this condition, to demonstrate the diagnostic difficulty in such cases, and to discuss the pathophysiology of intratonsillar abscess formation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008206 Lymphatic Diseases Diseases of LYMPH; LYMPH NODES; or LYMPHATIC VESSELS. Lymphatism,Status Lymphaticus,Disease, Lymphatic,Diseases, Lymphatic,Lymphatic Disease
D008297 Male Males
D009333 Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the HEAD to the rest of the body. Necks
D010608 Pharyngeal Diseases Pathological processes involving the PHARYNX. Diseases of Pharynx,Pharynx Diseases,Disease, Pharyngeal,Disease, Pharynx,Diseases, Pharyngeal,Diseases, Pharynx,Pharyngeal Disease,Pharynx Disease
D003680 Deglutition Disorders Difficulty in SWALLOWING which may result from neuromuscular disorder or mechanical obstruction. Dysphagia is classified into two distinct types: oropharyngeal dysphagia due to malfunction of the PHARYNX and UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER; and esophageal dysphagia due to malfunction of the ESOPHAGUS. Dysphagia,Swallowing Disorders,Esophageal Dysphagia,Oropharyngeal Dysphagia,Deglutition Disorder,Disorders, Deglutition,Dysphagia, Esophageal,Dysphagia, Oropharyngeal,Swallowing Disorder
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000038 Abscess Accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection. Abscesses
D000234 Adenoids A collection of lymphoid nodules on the posterior wall and roof of the NASOPHARYNX. Pharyngeal Tonsils,Tonsil, Pharyngeal,Pharyngeal Tonsil,Adenoid,Tonsils, Pharyngeal
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012720 Severity of Illness Index Levels within a diagnostic group which are established by various measurement criteria applied to the seriousness of a patient's disorder. Illness Index Severities,Illness Index Severity

Related Publications

Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Intratonsillar abscess, a rare cause of odynophagia.
January 2017, Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Intratonsillar abscess: A not-so-rare clinical entity.
April 2019, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Cutaneous thigh abscess secondary to melioidosis: a rare cause for a common presentation.
March 2021, BMJ case reports,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Pancytopenia: a rare cause for a common presentation.
October 2020, Tropical doctor,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
A Rare Case of Intratonsillar Abscess in an Adult.
November 2015, Clinics and practice,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Double trouble: a rare case of bilateral intratonsillar abscess.
October 2018, ANZ journal of surgery,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Intratonsillar abscess.
December 2008, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
A common presentation with a rare cause.
September 2007, The European respiratory journal,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
Medullary abscess: a rare clinical presentation.
March 2020, BMJ case reports,
Eng Cern Gan, and Yuk Hui Ng, and Siew Yoong Hwang, and Peter Kuo San Lu
A Rare Case of Intratonsillar Abscess in a Child: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.
August 2025, Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India,
Copied contents to your clipboard!