CERVICAL NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is an aggressive infection of the head and neck with high complication and mortality rates. Sixty-eight cases of CNF have been reported in the English-language literature. W e present a series of 8 patients with CNF, including 5 men and 3 women ranging in age from 25 to 92 years. To the best of our knowledge, thi s is one of the largest case series reported. Six of the 8 patients ha d a predisposing odontogenic focus of infection. Four patients had med iastinal involvement. Two patients, both with significant comorbidity at the time of presentation, died of CNF.