Peritonsillar abscesses are the most common deep infections of the head and neck in young adults, despite the widespread use of antibiotics for treating tonsillitis and pharyngitis. Peritonsillar abscesses can be treated effectively with swift medical and sometimes surgical intervention. There are many complications of peritonsillar abscesses, some of which may be fatal due to the proximity of major vasculature. Here we present a case of a patient with a peritonsillar abscess that resulted in stenosis of the internal carotid artery without neurological sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the otolaryngology literature.
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