Sonographic Findings in Necrotizing Fasciitis |
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| Authors: | William Shyy MD Roneesha S. Knight MD Ruth Goldstein MD Eric D. Isaacs MD Nathan A. Teismann MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California USA;2. Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, California USA |
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| Abstract: | Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but serious disease, and early diagnosis is essential to reducing its substantial morbidity and mortality. The 2 cases presented show that the key clinical and radiographic features of necrotizing fasciitis exist along a continuum of severity at initial presentation; thus, this diagnosis should not be prematurely ruled out in cases that do not show the dramatic features familiar to most clinicians. Although computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are considered the most effective imaging modalities, the cases described here illustrate how sonography should be recommended as an initial imaging test to make a rapid diagnosis and initiate therapy. |
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| Keywords: | emergency medicine musculoskeletal infections necrotizing fasciitis soft tissue infections |
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