[Diffuse cervical cellulitis apropos of 15 cases]. / Cellulites cervicales diffuses à propos de 15 cas.

ABSTRACT

A homogeneous series of 15 cases of diffuse cervical cellulitis originating in the oropharyngeal area were collected from December 1990 to April 1995. Despite early management, diffusion of the infectious processus was rapid with extension and development of severe mediastinal or pulmonary complications. When diffuse cervical cellulitis is suspected, early and adapted aggressive treatment must be initiated immediately suppression of the causal factor, surgical exploration with repeated drainage depending on the clinical course assessed on CT scans, antibiotics effective against the aero-anaerobic flora. This aggressive attitude is required to avoid potentially severe morbidity. Anti-inflammatory drugs, taken alone or with unadapted antibiotics was implicated in 11 cases as a favoring factor.