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In a randomized study of a convenience sample of 28 adult patients who presented to an emergency department with symptoms suggestive of peritonsillar abscess, the authors compared diagnosis using landmarks or ultrasound. Needle aspiration was performed either by the traditional landmark-based technique or by intraoral ultrasound guidance. Procedures were performed by second- and third-year emergency medicine residents under direct supervision of an attending emergency physician credentialed in ultrasound-guided procedures. All patients were treated with oral antibiotics and followed up in the emergency department after two days.
Diagnostic accuracy for peritonsillar abscess was 100% in the ultrasound group versus 64% in the landmark group; f…