title: Regarding three cases of descending necrotizing mediastinitis: spiral CT assessment.
abstract: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rare and life-threatening complication of deep neck space infection which occurs when infection spreads from the deep spaces of the neck, propagating within the soft tissue into the mediastinal spaces. The disease has a high mortality rate due to frequent delay in diagnosis and treatment. Computed Tomography (CT) is important in determining the level of infection, showing the presence and extension of fluid collections (with or without gas bubbles) and diffuse soft-tissue infiltration of the mediastinal fat, and indicating the best surgical approach and progress of treatment. Three cases of DNM evaluated with spiral CT from June 1999 to June 2001 are presented.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale A. Cardarelli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaglione
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giovine
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lassandro
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed