Transoral Ultrasound Versus no Transoral Ultrasound in Diagnostic Workup of Peritonsillar Abscess

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a collection of pus between the palatine tonsil and the constrictor muscle. PTA is detected by recognizing characteristics during clinical examination: redness, pain, malaise, trismus, and unilateral peritonsillar swelling. Clinical assessment, including inspection and palpation, is the traditional diagnostic method for patients suspected of having PTA. If PTA is suspected, aspiration with a large-gauge needle or incision is performed to drain the abscess . It can be challenging to distinguish PTA and peritonsillar cellulitis (PTC) based on clinical examination alone. Due to the increased availability of point-of-care ultrasound, it is a part of the diagnostic workup of PTA. Several studies have shown that transoral US can improve the diagnostic accuracy of patients with a suspected PTA. However, no large multicenter study has evaluated whether one of these