Retropharyngeal Hematoma Secondary to Vomiting in a Healthy Adult: A Case Report

Abstract

Nontraumatic spontaneous retropharyngeal hematoma is rarely encountered. Clinical diagnosis of retropharyngeal hematoma can be difficult and may be infrequently misdiagnosed with acute pharyngitis. A careful history taking is also an important process to diagnose this disease entity. Because of its rarity and difficulty of early diagnosis, retropharyngeal hematoma may rapidly progress to airway compromise. A 51-year-old woman suddenly developed neck pain and dyspnea after vomiting. Examination showed anterior bulging of the posterior oropharyngeal wall without ecchymosis around neck. No underlying medical conditions, medications, or trauma were found. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging revealed retropharyngeal hematoma collection from nasopharynx to laryngopharynx. We report a case of spontaneous retropharyngeal hematoma with increased intrathoracic pressure caused by vomiting.




J Med Cases. 2015;6(2):81-83
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2038w