title: A pain in the neck--imaging in neck sepsis.
abstract: Deep neck infection has a high morbidity and mortality and the extent of infection is often difficult to estimate clinically. The complex anatomy and the communication between neck spaces means that infection can spread along fascial planes leading to life-threatening complications such as airway compromise, vascular erosion/thrombosis, neural dysfunction, and ultimately descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Imaging has an important role to play in identifying the extent of infection and the presence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK. nickylyle@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Batty
mesh_terms: D005205:Fascia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography