In order to compare the efficacy of permucosal needle aspiration with that of incision and drainage in the management of peritonsillar abscess. We reviewed the charts of 21 patients treated for peritonsillar abscess, who had been admitted to the Haesung hospital of Asan Welfare Foundation between January 1990 to June 1993. The 10 patients, 6 male and 4 female, were managed with incision and drainage and permucosal needle aspiration were performed in 11 patients, including 9 male and 2 female. The following results were obtained : 1) The duration of fever resolution averaged 2.3 hospital days(range ; 1 to 5 days) in patients treated with incision and drainage, and 1.3 days(range ; 1 to 5 days), in patients treated with needle aspiration. 2) The hospital stay ranged from 4 to 9 days(average 5.6 days) in incision and drainage cases, and from 4 to 9 days(average 4.9 days) in needle aspiration cases. 3) The average postoperative time until the patient could eat solid food easily was 2.6 hospital days(range ; 1 to 4 days) in patients treated with incision and drainage, and 2.9 hospital days(range ; 1 to 5 days) in patients treated with needle aspiration. In summary, these results show that permucosal needle aspiration is more simple and acceptable treatment comparing favorably with incision and drainage.