All are true about Parapharyngeal abscess, except
High-Yield Explanation
It is the abscess of pharyngomaxillary or lateral pharyngeal space. Parapharyngeal space is pyramidal in shape with its base at the base of the skull and its apex at the hyoid bone. Clinical features depend on the compament involved. Anterior compament infections produce a triad of symptoms: (i) prolapse of tonsil and tonsillar fossa, (ii) trismus and (iii) external swelling behind the angle of the jaw. Posterior compament involvement produces (i) bulge of the pharynx behind the posterior pillar, (ii) paralysis of CN IX, X, XI, and XII and sympathetic chain, and (iii) swelling of the parotid region. There is minimal trismus or tonsillar prolapse. Fever, odynophagia, sore throat, toicollis (due to spasm of preveebral muscles) and signs of toxaemia are common to both compaments. (Ref: Diseases of ENT, PL Dhingra 7th edition, page 301)