Prevertebral Soft Tissue Thickness Research Articles

Lack of association of CT findings and surgical drainage in pediatric neck abscesses

To evaluate the relationship between neck abscess characteristics on computerized tomography (CT) scan and surgical drainage in pediatric patients. Retrospective data warehouse review identified 43 children younger than 19 years admitted to a tertiary care pediatric hospital during the first quarters of 2000 through 2003 who underwent CT imaging for suspicion of head and neck abscesses involving the neck; face; and peritonsillar, retropharyngeal, and parapharyngeal spaces. A total of 45 scans were graded by a radiologist blinded to management. Thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue; location, dimensions, and degree of enhancement of the abscess; patient age; steroid and preadmission antibiotic use; and surgical intervention were recorded. Surgical drainage was performed in 32 of 43 patients (74%). We found no significant correlation between prevertebral soft tissue thickness, abscess dimensions or enhancement on CT scan, and surgical drainage. There was no significant association between surgical drainage and patient age, administration of steroids, or preadmission antibiotic use. Neck abscess appearance on CT scan did not predict surgical drainage, although prevertebral soft tissue thickness and abscess dimensions may be important features. Abscess enhancement, patient age, and the use of steroids and prehospitalization antibiotics were not found to correlate with surgical drainage.

Radiographic measurement of prevertebral soft tissue thickness on lateral radiographs of the neck: Chen MYM, Bohrer SP. Skeletal Radiol 1999;28:444–446

Radiographic measurement of prevertebral soft tissue thickness on lateral radiographs of the neck: Chen MYM, Bohrer SP. Skeletal Radiol 1999;28:444–446

Radiographic measurement of prevertebral soft tissue thickness on lateral radiographs of the neck.

The prevertebral soft tissue measurement is commonly used for assessing prevertebral pathology such as abscesses or hematomas after injury. Very few references concerning the ratio of retrotracheal thickness to C5 diameter are available in the literature. The purpose of this study was to measure the normal soft tissue thickness at the C5 level of the neck and to establish the normal ratio of retrotracheal soft tissue thickness to the diameter of C5 for daily use. We measured soft tissue thickness in the neck of 54 normal subjects and calculated the mean and standard deviation. Using mean plus one standard deviation the maximum retrocricoid soft tissue thickness was 0.7xC5 diameter and maximum retrotracheal thickness was 1.0xC5 diameter. Soft tissue thickness that exceeds this limit must be studied further for signs of potential disease.

Measurement standards for the prevertebral region in the lateral soft-tissue radiograph of the neck

One hundred thirty-one lateral soft-tissue radiographs of the neck, taken over a 6-month period, were reviewed. Eighty-six radiographs were normal. The mean prevertebral soft-tissue thickness in the posterior-anterior dimension for each normal radiograph was measured. The mean thickness in the retropharyngeal region ranged from 6.2 mm in the infant to 3.7 mm in the adult, while the mean thickness in the retrotracheal region ranged from 9.2 mm in the preschool group to 12.1 mm in the adult.

頚椎・頚髄損傷における軟部陰影の検討

The lateral cervical roentgenogram is a useful guide in evaluating the bony and soft tissue relationships of the neck. Particularly, the measurements of the cervical soft tissue width are extremely important in determining the presence or absence of cervical spine injury. We therefore established the criterion of prevertebral soft tissue thickness. To determine the normal appearance, we examined 100 adults without detectable abnormalities in our clinic. We measured 248 cases of the cervical injury that had had operative treatment in our center. There were apparent differences in the results between these two groups. The prevertebral soft tissue width was measured at the level of the anteroinferior border of the second and sixth cervical vertebral body, the former is retropharyngeal space and the latter is retrotracheal space. This point was chosen because it was above the pharynx and the trachea, easy to determine, and free from conflicting shadows. It is suggested that measurments for the retropharyngeal space greater than 4mm, and measurments of the retrotracheal space greater than 15mm, should be indirect evidence of cervical spine injury.