Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck with intrathoracic extension

We present the case history of a white male patient who initially presented in the Emergency Department with a peritonsillar abscess and subsequently returned several days later with necrotizing cervical fasciitis with intrathoracic extension. The successful treatment, utilizing surgical debridement and hyperbaric oxygen, will be discussed for this disease, which causes up to 50% or greater mortality.