Normal Airway

  • Etiology: technical artifact
  • Imaging: lateral radiographs of the airway must always be taken in inspiration and extension, if lateral radiographs of the airway are taken in expiration and flexion they can mistakenly be interpreted as showing a retropharyngeal abscess
  • DDX: retropharyngeal abscess

Cases of Normal Airway

Radiograph of normal airway
Lateral radiograph of the airway taken in expiration and flexion shows nearly 90 degree buckling of the trachea and massive thickening of the prevertebral soft tissues simulating a retropharyngeal abscess. Repeat radiograph obtained in inspiration and extension was normal.