Challenges in the Diagnosis of a Posterior Lingual Abscess, a Potential Lethal Disorder: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A lingual abscess is a rare but potentially life-threatening disorder. Since the introduction of antibiotics, the incidence of posterior lingual abscesses has significantly declined; however, this condition is often missed on physical examination or misdiagnosed as another condition. The consequence of this misdiagnosis can be severe because airway obstruction with subsequent difficult or unattainable intubation can develop and lead rapidly to death. Being relatively rare yet potentially lethal, consideration of a lingual abscess at the time of autopsy is important; otherwise, it may be missed. During most autopsies, the base of the tongue is often examined grossly in a cursory fashion, if at all, and microscopic sections of this region are not commonly used. As this case report will illustrate, such an approach would most likely miss this important condition.