danger space
The danger space is a deep compartment of the head and neck located behind the true retropharyngeal space, extending from the skull base to the mediastinum.
Terminology
The danger space has no specific contents apart from a small amount of loose fatty connective tissue and is thus usually indistinguishable from the true retropharyngeal space on imaging, the danger space is often subsumed into descriptions of a single retropharyngeal space/compartment .
Gross anatomy
Boundaries
- anteriorly: alar fascia
- posteriorly: prevertebral layer of the deep cervical fascia
- superiorly: clivus
- inferiorly: posterior mediastinum at the level of the diaphragm
Radiographic features
In healthy patients, it is indistinguishable from the retropharyngeal space. It is only visible when distended by fluid or pus, below the level of T1-T6, since the retropharyngeal space variably ends at this level.
Related pathology
It is a potential path for spread of infections (e.g. retropharyngeal abscess) from the pharynx to the mediastinum.
Siehe auch:
Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu danger space:
