Necrotizing fascitis of the head and neck--report of three cases and review of the literature.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) of the head and neck is a rare but potentially life-threatening soft tissue infection primarily affecting the superficial fascial planes. It is caused by group A streptococci or by a synergistic combination of aerobe and anaerobe micro-organisms. If proper treatment is delayed, the infection may cause extensive necrosis of overlying skin, extend to deeper planes and produce severe systemic toxicity. Recent reviews suggest that cervical and facial NF should be considered separate clinical entities with different clinical features and prognosis. In both, early diagnosis with prompt, aggressive surgical and medical treatment is essential to a successful outcome. Three cases of NF of the neck secondary to peritonsillar/parapharyngeal infections are presented and the main characteristics of 117 well-characterized cases of cervical and facial NF are reviewed.