title: Fatal cervical necrotizing fasciitis (a report of two cases of confirmed odontogenic origin and one of possible odontogenic origin).
abstract: Three cases of cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF), two of confirmed odontogenic origin and one of probable odontogenic origin, were observed from 1993-1999. This is in addition to three cases previously reported by this office. A rare sequelae of dental infection, CNF can be a severe, rapidly progressing infection of the cervical tissues having a mortality rate of up to 50%. "Hospital gangrene" was first described during the Civil War. It was later to be described as necrotizing fasciitis and later yet was designated as a separate clinicopathological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Medical Investigator, UNM Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87109, USA.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Loomis
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000150:complications*