Clinical indication: 14 month old. Superficial injury to left tonsil following a fall. Found on floor with a wooden spoon in the hand. 48 hours of worsening pain, difficulty swallowing and drooling. Rule out posterior pharyngeal abscess. Head is bended forward (antalgic).
There is significant prevertebral soft tissue swelling which contains some foci of air within it. Appearances are highly suspicious for a pharyngeal abscess. This is causing anterior displacement of the airway without significant AP narrowing of it.
No pyrexia or elevated inflammatory markers, but antibiotics were started. Overall satisfactory condition. Released home, complete recovery after some days without further symptoms. Was it possibly some soft tissue injury with air-blebs? Likely not abscess.