Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (Kawasaki syndrome) mimicking a suppurative parapharyngeal space infection. Case report and review of the literature.

A six-year-old girl presented with fever, trismus and a very tender, enlarged submandibular mass. CT-scanning showed a right parapharyngeal mass and enlarged cervical nodes in the posterior triangle. Surgical exploration of the area failed to reveal an abscess. Subsequently the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Kawasaki syndrome were met. This unusual presentation is compared with previously reported cases in the literature.