A Pediatric Radiology textbook and Pediatric Radiology digital library
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
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.