[Necrotizing fasciitis: review and case report]

Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF) is a severe and aggressive disease with rapid progression associated with systemic diseases, its presentation is rare in the head and neck region.

We present the case of a 69-year-old patient who consulted urgently for a 3-day history characterized by right molar pain with subsequent increase in right facial volume and periorbital cellulitis, with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The condition showed a cyclical evolution influenced by existing comorbidities, with the patient undergoing both surgical and medical treatment with a multidisciplinary team. Additionally, we carried out a review of the literature on FN.

The patient's survival outcomes were favorable; However, the consequences were disabling both aesthetically and functionally. The literature review revealed the rarity of such cases and the peculiarities of the presented case compared to those reported in the literature so far.

An early diagnosis based on its clinical manifestations and complementary studies can lead to correct management of the disease.