American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 18-21 , January 2007

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis with mediastinitis: a rare occurrence in the pediatric age

Presented as a poster at the 6th International Conference on Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Athens, Greece, May 16–19, 2004.

  • Marco Berlucchi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
  • ,
  • Cristina Galtelli, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  • ,
  • Nader Nassif, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
  • ,
  • Maria P. Bondioni, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Radiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  • ,
  • Piero Nicolai, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy. Tel.: +39 0303995319; fax: +39 030395212.

Received 14 February 2006

References 

  1. Gallia LJ, Johnson JT. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1981;89:935–937
  2. Krespi YP, Lawson W, Blaugrund SM, et al. Massive necrotizing infections of the neck. Head Neck Surg. 1981;3:475–481
  3. Kaiser RE, Cerra FB. Progressive necrotizing surgical infections—a unified approach. J Trauma. 1981;21:349–355
  4. Bush JK, Givner LB, Whitaker SH, et al. Necrotizing fasciitis of the parapharyngeal space with carotid artery occlusion and acute hemiplegia. Pediatrics. 1984;73:343–347
  5. Henrich DE, Smith TL, Mukherji S, et al. Pediatric craniocervical necrotizing fasciitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1996;105:72–74
  6. Moss RL, Musemeche CA, Kosloske AM. Necrotizing fasciitis in children: prompt recognition and aggressive therapy improve survival. J Pediatr Surg. 1996;31:1142–1146
  7. Cordeiro AM, Buosso A, De Cassia I, et al. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis in an infant by Haemophilus non influenzae. Infection. 1997;25:383–384
  8. Feinerman IL, Tan H, Robertson D, et al. Necrotizing fasciitis of the pharynx following adenotonsillectomy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1999;48:1–7
  9. Mohammedi I, Ceruse P, Duperret S, et al. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: 10 years' experience at a single institution. Intensive Care Med. 1999;25:829–834
  10. Newton CL, De Lemos D, Abramo TJ, et al. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis caused by Serratia marcescens in a 2 year old. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2002;18:433–435
  11. Sakran W, Mazzawi S, Merzel Y, et al. Streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis with toxic shock syndrome following cervical adenitis. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2004;68:1209–1213
  12. In:  Jones J editors. Investigation upon the nature, cause, and treatment of hospital gangrene as it prevailed in the Confederate Armies 1861–1865 in Surgical Memories of the War of Rebellion. New York: US Sanitary Commission; 1871;
  13. Meleney FL. Hemolytic Streptococcus gangrene. Arch Surg. 1924;9:317–335
  14. Wilson B. Necrotizing fasciitis. Am Surg. 1952;18:416–431
  15. Meleney FL. Hemolytic Streptococcus gangrene following scarlet fever antitoxin. Am Surg. 1930;91:287–288
  16. Wilson HD, Haltalin KC. Acute necrotizing fasciitis in childhood. Report of 11 cases. Am J Dis Child. 1973;125:591–595
  17. Bahna M, Canalis RF. Necrotizing fasciitis (streptococcal gangrene) of the face. Report of a case and review of the literature. Arch Otolaryngol. 1980;106:648–651
  18. Lin C, Yeh FL, Lin JT, et al. Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck: an analysis of 47 cases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001;107:1684–1693
  19. McCafferty EL, Lyons C. Supportive fasciitis as the essential feature of hemolytic streptococcal gangrene: with notes of fascititomy and early wound closure as the treatment of choice. Surgery. 1948;24:432–438
  20. Rouse TM, Malangoni MA, Schutte WJ. Necrotizing fasciitis: a preventable disaster. Surgery. 1982;92:765–770
  21. Ledingham IM, Tehrani MA. Diagnosis, clinical course and treatment of acute dermal gangrene. Br J Surg. 1972;62:364–369
  22. Becker M, Zbaren P, Hermans R, et al. Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck: role of CT in diagnosis and management. Radiology. 1997;202:471–476
  23. Ellis ME, Mandal BK. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment: 10 years' experience of a Regional Infectious Disease Unit. J Infect. 1983;6:17–28
  24. Riseman JA, Zamboni WA, Curtis A, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing fasciitis reduces mortality and the need for debridements. Surgery. 1990;108:847–850
  25. Stone HH, Martin JD. Synergistic necrotizing cellulitis. Ann Surg. 1972;175:702–711
  26. Stamenkovic I, Lew PD. Early recognition of potentially fatal necrotizing fasciitis. The use of frozen-section biopsy. N Engl J Med. 1984;310:1689–1693
  27. Stevens DL. Invasive group a streptococcal infections: the past, present and future. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994;13:561–566
  28. Bisno AL, Stevens DL. Streptococcal infections of skin and soft tissues. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:240–245

PII: S0196-0709(06)00111-6

doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2006.06.003

American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 18-21 , January 2007