Cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin involving the temporal region – A case report

Lorenzini, Guido; Picciotti, Maria; Di Vece, Luca; Pepponi, Emanuela; Brindisi, Leopoldo; Vessio, Valeria; Maffei, Marianna; Viviano, Massimo

doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2010.05.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
Volume 39, Issue 8 , Pages 570-573, December 2011

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin involving the temporal region – A case report

Guido Lorenzini
- Department of Odontostomatologic and Ophthalmologic Sciences (Head: Prof. Marco Ferrari), University of Siena, Italy
- Corresponding author. Polyclinic Santa Maria “Le Scotte”, University of Siena, Department of Odontostomatologic and Ophthalmologic Sciences, Viale Bracci 1, Cap 53100 Siena, Italy. Tel.: +39 0577585771/+39 3395842547(mobile); fax:+39 0577586155.
Maria Picciotti
- Department of Odontostomatologic and Ophthalmologic Sciences (Head: Prof. Marco Ferrari), University of Siena, Italy
Luca Di Vece
- Department of Odontostomatologic and Ophthalmologic Sciences (Head: Prof. Marco Ferrari), University of Siena, Italy
Emanuela Pepponi
- Department of Otolaryngology (Head: Prof. Daniele Nuti), University of Siena, Italy
Leopoldo Brindisi
- Department of Otolaryngology (Head: Prof. Daniele Nuti), University of Siena, Italy
Valeria Vessio
- Department of Odontostomatologic and Ophthalmologic Sciences (Head: Prof. Marco Ferrari), University of Siena, Italy
Marianna Maffei
- Department of Otolaryngology (Head: Prof. Daniele Nuti), University of Siena, Italy
Massimo Viviano
- Department of Odontostomatologic and Ophthalmologic Sciences (Head: Prof. Marco Ferrari), University of Siena, Italy

Received 15 July 2009; accepted 11 May 2010. published online 18 June 2010.

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a soft-tissue infection, usually polymicrobial, that causes necrosis of fascia and subcutaneous tissue while sparing skin and muscle. We report a case of cervical NF complicating dental infection in a 50-year-old woman, who presented with infection involving mucosa of the right mandible and temporal muscle, and masticator spaces, requiring extensive surgery and antibiotic therapy. Prompt diagnosis and immediate aggressive surgical debridement of all compromised tissues are critical to reducing morbidity and mortality in these rapidly progressive infections.

Keywords: Fasciitis, Dental infection, Facial swellings, Temporal muscle