title: Necrotizing fasciitis and its mimics: what radiologists need to know.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to review the imaging features of necrotizing fasciitis and its potential mimics. Key imaging features are emphasized to enable accurate and efficient interpretation of variables that are essential in appropriate management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Necrotizing fasciitis is a medical emergency with potential lethal outcome. Dissecting gas along fascial planes in the absence of penetrating trauma (including iatrogenic) is essentially pathognomonic. However, the lack of soft-tissue emphysema does not exclude the diagnosis. Mimics of necrotizing fasciitis include nonnecrotizing fasciitis (eosinophilic, paraneoplastic, inflammatory (lupus myofasciitis, Churg-Strauss, nodular, or proliferative), myositis, neoplasm, myonecrosis, inflammatory myopathy, and compartment syndrome. Necrotizing fasciitis is a clinical diagnosis, and imaging can reveal nonspecific or negative findings (particularly during the early course of disease). One should be familiar with salient clinical and imaging findings of necrotizing fasciitis to facilitate a more rapid and accurate diagnosis and be aware that its diagnosis necessitates immediate discussion with the referring physician.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, HSC Level 4, Rm 120, East Loop Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11794.
authors.forename: Ammar A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Elaine S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Rajarsi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Churg-Strauss fasciitis; eosinophilic fasciitis; lupus myofasciitis; necrotizing fasciitis; nodular fasciitis; paraneoplastic fasciitis