Spontaneous pneumothorax: an unusual occurrence in a patient with Ludwig's angina.

Airway obstruction with asphyxiation remains the most common life-threatening complication in Ludwig's angina. This particular case posed an interesting challenge because of the multiple complications that arose prior to and during treatment. A review of medical literature revealed that a case of Ludwig's angina with concomitant spontaneous pneumothorax has not been previously reported. The possibility of these two entities occurring together should be considered when dealing with extensive head and neck infections.