Fatal cervical necrotizing fasciitis (a report of two cases of confirmed odontogenic origin and one of possible odontogenic origin)

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.