• Antonio Pinto, Mariano Scaglione, Maria Giuseppina Scuderi, Giovanni Tortora, Stefania Daniele, and Luigia Romano.
• Department of Diagnostic Imaging, A. Cardarelli Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy. antopin1968@libero.it
• Eur J Radiol. 2008 Mar 1; 65 (3): 389-94.

AbstractDescending necrotizing mediastinitis is an acute, polymicrobial infection of the mediastinum, originating from odontogenic, oropharyngeal and cervical infections. Anatomical continuity of the fascial spaces between the neck and the mediastinum leads to an occasional mediastinal extension of deep neck infection as a serious sequela. An understanding of the anatomy of the deep spaces of the neck and familiarity with the imaging findings in descending necrotizing mediastinitis may allow rapid diagnosis and treatment of this rare and life-threatening complication of deep neck space infection. In this article, we discuss the current role of radiology in diagnosing descending necrotizing mediastinitis, in determining the level of infection and the pathways of spread of infections from the neck to the mediastinum and in planning a successful treatment.

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