Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: a case report.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe soft tissue infection characterized by cutaneous necrosis, suppurative fasciitis, vascular thrombosis and extreme systemic toxicity. Involvement of head and neck structures is rare, but occur most frequently in patients with diabetes and chronic alcoholism. Once initiated, the disease progresses rapidly and diffusely, involving adjacent fascial spaces. Necrotizing fasciitis may also extend to the cervical viscera, mediastinum and anterior chest wall. A 65-year-old chronic alcoholic man, with long-standing diabetes and liver cirrhosis under irregular treatment is described. The patient developed a deep neck infection from a buccal abscess after a local incision. The infection then extended to an orocutaneous fistula and deep neck superficial and middle layer fascias, with necrotizing fasciitis. Management requires early recognition, high doses of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, early surgical drainage and radical debridement of necrotic tissue. The disease carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly.