ODONTOGENIC CERVICAL NECROTIZING FASCIITIS: DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Odontogenic cervical necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, rapidly progressive, and potentially life-threatening infection that can be fatal without timely intervention. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to improving the chances of survival, making awareness of its presentation critical for clinicians. We present the case of an 8-year-old paediatric patient with odontogenic cervical necrotizing fasciitis complicated by a carotid artery rupture and subsequent mediastinal hematoma formation. Despite the high risk of brain damage following the carotid artery rupture, the child maintained an adequate neurological status, which was possibly attributed to the presence of a congenital accessory right external carotid artery. Unfortunately, during the hematoma resorption phase, the patient developed hematoma-associated sepsis, which ultimately resulted in death. This case highlights the challenges of managing secondary vascular and infectious complications, as well as the unexpected protective role of vascular anomalies in cerebral perfusion during critical events.