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Table 4 Edema patterns on MRI

From: MRI of acute neck infections: evidence summary and pictorial review

Anatomical compartment

Abbreviation

Definition

Clinical significance

Retropharyngeal space

RPE

Edema of at least 2 mm in anteroposterior thickness between the prevertebral muscles posteriorly and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle anteriorly, in at least two consecutive axial images

Predicts ICU treatment in patients with various types of neck infection, present in about half of all patients with infection

More common and more caudally extending in pharyngotonsillar than in odontogenic infections

Mediastinum

ME

Edema at or below the level of the thoracic inlet, using the superior border of the manubrium sterni (anterior ME), or the first thoracic vertebra (posterior ME) as superior borders

Predicts ICU treatment and length of hospital stay in patients with various types of neck infection; present in about one-quarter of infected patients

Similar prevalence in pharyngotonsillar and odontogenic infection, but the former is usually posterior and the latter usually anterior

Strongest predictor of extraoral surgery in patients with odontogenic infection

Submandibular space

SMSE

Oral cavity and floor of the mouth below the mylohyoid muscle

Very common in both pharyngotonsillar and odontogenic infections; a useful indicator of acute infection but not a marker for severe illness

Sublingual space

SLSE

Oral cavity above the mylohyoid muscle

Predicts deep extension of peritonsillar abscesses

Visceral space/anterior cervical space

VSE

Infrahyoid soft-tissue space including the larynx, strap muscles, and thyroid, also including the anterior cervical space between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the carotid space

Predicts both deep extension of peritonsillar abscesses and extraoral surgery in patients with odontogenic infections at the univariate level