IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HEAD AND NECK INFECTIONS

Head and neck infections are a group of disorders that can be accompanied by serious complications with an extent that is hard to estimate. Although their occurrence has significantly decreased due to the use of antibiotic and improvements in oral hygiene in modern times, there still exists a high rate of morbidity and mortality of these infections. A complex anatomy and communications between spaces in this region favor the spread of these processes and can lead to life-treating conditions such as airway obstruction, empyema, mediastinitis, thrombophlebitis, pericarditis and septic shock. Computerized tomography (CT), as a method of choice in emergency conditions of the head and neck region, allows a fast and accurate diagnosis, estimation of the disease spread and potential complications. Acta Medica Medianae 2017;56(2):70-77.