Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai kaiho
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Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho · Mar 2002
[Evaluation of safe surgical treatment of peritonsillar abscess using computed tomography].
With the development of new antimicrobial agents, the incidence of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is on the decline. PTA is still often encountered in general practice, however, where it requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. Because the internal carotid artery runs medially to the medial parapharyngeal space, damage to nearby vascular or other structures is a surgical risk of PTA. ⋯ The relationship between the upper posterior alveolar margin and midline sagittal plane was useful for determining the site of the parapharyngeal space. Because the internal carotid artery is located on the same sagittal plane as the upper posterior alveolar margin, when conducting drainage or incision of PTA, we should advance sagittaLly from the point of incision to a depth of no more than 20 mm. If the tip of the instrument is kept medial to the sagittal plane of the upper posterior alveolar margin, effective treatment should be achievable without the risk of vascular damage.