Bezold abscess, case report and a review of English literature reporting of these cases

Bezold’s abscess (BA) is a rare and potentially life-threatening extracranial complication resulting from acute suppurative mastoiditis. Due to its rarity, the condition requires a heightened level of clinical suspicion for proper diagnosis. This report presents a case of BA in a pediatric patient, which is atypical given the condition's usual presentation in adults. Additionally, we provide a thorough review of the literature from 2005 to 2024, analyzing 32 cases documented in English-language publications across European medical databases. The review revealed that BA primarily affects males (19/32, 60%) and adults (20/32, 62%). Notably, seven cases (7/32) were linked to cholesteatoma, and six (6/32) involved concurrent sinus thrombosis.