Abstract
Contour changes and widening of the retropharyngeal prevertebral soft tissues more than 7 mm are regarded as reliable signs of underlying cervical vertebral injury. Although these signs often are useful in identifying occult trauma, one should be aware that there are many other conditions that result in retropharyngeal widening. These entities include hematoma of other origin, abscess, vascular anomaly, intubation, crying child, and swallowing. This pictorial essay illustrates these entities. Trauma patients with wide retropharyngeal soft tissues, in the absence of other findings, should undergo cervical flexion and extension radiographs to rule out ligamentous disruption. In addition, the other causes of soft tissue widening should be sought.
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