title: Necrotizing fasciitis of the leg presenting with chest wall emphysema.
abstract: We present the case of a 70-year-old woman with necrotizing fasciitis of the right leg, sepsis and bacteraemia with Escherichia coli. Chest wall emphysema, detected on standard radiograph and the presence of air in the soft-tissue of the foot was the reason for prompt surgical drainage in addition to standard fluid resuscitation and antibiotic therapy. There was no evidence of underlying diabetes mellitus, but unknown chronic renal failure and corticosteroid therapy for rheumatoid arthritis were considered predisposing factors. We present a short overview of this rare life-threatening condition with emphasis on radiological diagnostic modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. eric.geusens@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Geusens
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pans
authors.forename: Iwan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van Breuseghem
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knockaert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome