Deep Neck Space Infection: A Case of Unexplained Headache Caused by Deep Neck Space Infection

Background: Deep neck space infection is a disease that is often misdiagnosed and may have many rare symptoms. We report a case of upper cervical infection with headache as the primary manifestation and review the relevant literature. Case presentation: A 76-year-old male patient had a recurrent headache for more than one year but was misdiagnosed as cerebrovascular disease. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging showed an abnormal signal of the cervical spine with surrounding tissue edema. A deep neck space infection was diagnosed. We had debridement, and the headache disappeared. Conclusions: : This case shows that orthopedics and cardiovascular doctors should improve their understanding of deep neck space infection and avoid misdiagnosis.