Retropharyngeal Abscess

Understanding deep-space infections requires in-depth familiarity with head and neck anatomy regarding fascial planes. The cervical fascia consists of two distinct layers within the neck. Although this fascia usually adheres to neighboring tissues, genuine voids can be produced when an infection intercalates between fascial layers, leading to the fast spread of infectious inflammation and purulence between fascial planes. The retropharyngeal space is near two other possible spaces: the danger and prevertebral spaces. The alar fascia and the prevertebral fascia create the danger zone at the front and back of the body, respectively. The longus colli spinal muscles form the posterior border of the prevertebral space, whereas the prevertebral fascia forms the anterior wall. The prevertebral space continues to insert the psoas muscles, whereas the danger space extends along the mediastinum to the diaphragm level. Because of these anatomical connections, an infection in the retropharyngeal region can quickly move to the mediastinum, where it could cause life-threatening mediastinitis.