ear, nose, and throat disorders
Peritonsillar Abscess and Cellulitis
Diagnosis
Needle aspiration Sometimes CT Peritonsillar cellulitis is recognized in patients with severe sore throat who have trismus, "hot potato" voice, and uvular deviation. All such patients require needle aspiration of the tonsillar mass and cultures. Aspiration of pus differentiates abscess from cellulitis. Point-of-care ultrasonography can be used for diagnosis and to determine the optimal location for aspiration or incision and drainage. CT of the neck can help confirm the diagnosis when the physical examination is difficult or the diagnosis is in doubt, particularly when the condition must be differentiated from a parapharyngeal infection or other deep neck infection. 