[Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: a diagnosis not to miss]. / La cellulite cervico-médiastinale nécrosante: un diagnostic à ne pas méconnaître.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a severe disease which occurs after a mild otorhinolaryngologic or dental infection. The diagnosis must be established rapidly with the help of clinical and computed tomography of the neck and chest data. Treatment is based on antibiotics, surgery and hyperbaric oxygen. The outcome is poor with high mortality. We report a case of septicemia complicating descending necrotizing mediastinitis after dental infection.