Pictorial Review of MRI Findings in Acute Neck Infections in Children
Janne Nurminen,
Jaakko Heikkinen,
Tatu Happonen,
Mikko Nyman,
Aapo Sirén,
Jari-Pekka Vierula,
Jarno Velhonoja,
Heikki Irjala,
Tero Soukka,
Lauri Ivaska,
Kimmo Mattila,
Jussi Hirvonen
Affiliations
Janne Nurminen
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Jaakko Heikkinen
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Tatu Happonen
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Mikko Nyman
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Aapo Sirén
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Jari-Pekka Vierula
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Jarno Velhonoja
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Heikki Irjala
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Tero Soukka
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
Lauri Ivaska
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Kimmo Mattila
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Jussi Hirvonen
Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
Pediatric neck infections and their complications, such as abscesses extending to deep neck compartments, are potentially life-threatening acute conditions. Medical imaging aims to verify abscesses and their extensions and exclude other complications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven to be a useful and highly accurate imaging method in acute neck infections in children. Children and adults differ in terms of the types of acute infections and the anatomy and function of the neck. This pictorial review summarizes typical findings in pediatric patients with neck infections and discusses some difficulties related to image interpretation.
