Table 1 Features of descending necrotizing mediastinitis patients

1

47/M

Neck Exploration

Yes

No

Neck pain

Mandibular Abscess

IIA

Anterior mediastinum abscess especially on the left side (CT)

2

15/F

Neck Exploration

No

No

Neck Infections

I

3

25/F

Neck Exploration

Yes

No

Neck pain, Chest pain, Fever, Tachycardia, Tachypnea

Periodontal

I

Neck abscess extending to retrosternal space above the level of carina (CT)

4

30/M

Combined

Yes

Yes

Neck pain, Fever, Dysphagia, Tachycardia, Tachypnea

Necrotizing Thyroiditis

IIB

Necrotizing of the parathyroid gland

5

35/M

Combined

Yes

Yes

Neck pain, Dysphagia, Fever, Dyspnea

Neck Infections

IIB

Significant necrosis, developed post operative pleural effusion and sepsis

6

34/M

Neck Exploration

No

No

Neck pain, Chest pain

Neck Infections

I

Ludwig abscess

7

55/F

Combined

No

Yes

Neck pain, Fever, Dyspnea, Decreased LOC

Mandibular Abscess + Periodontal

IIA

Opaque area in the left anterior-inferior mediastinum (CT)

8

17/F

Combined

Yes

Yes

Neck pain, Fever, Dysphagia

Neck Infections

IIA

Developed empyema + Two purulent collection in left thoracic cavity in periaortic and lower pleural cavity

9

23/M

Combined

No

Yes

Chest pain, Fever, Dyspnea, Tachycardia, Tachypnea

Neck Infections

IIA

10

45/M

Combined

No

Yes

Chest pain, Fever, Dyspnea, Dysphagia

Neck Infections

IIB

Multiloculated right and left side pleural effusion (CT) + Mediastinal widening (CXR)

11

25/M

Neck Exploration

Yes

No

Neck Infections

I

12

45/M

Combined

No

Yes

Neck pain, Fever

Mandibular Abscess + Periodontal

I

13

40/M

Combined

No

No

Fever, Dyspnea

Mandibular Abscess + Periodontal

IIA

14

37/F

Thoracotomy

No

Yes

Neck pain

Neck Infections

I

Bilateral loculated empyema (CT)

15

17/M

Combined

No

Yes

Neck pain, Fever, Tachycardia, Tachypnea

Periodontal

IIB

16

23/M

Neck Exploration

No

No

Neck pain, Dysphagia

Neck Infections

IIC

17

53/F

Neck Exploration

No

No

Neck pain, Chest pain

Periodontal

IIC

18

28/M

Combined

No

Yes

Neck pain

Neck Infections

IIA

19

41/M

Combined

Yes

Yes

Neck pain, Chest pain, Dyspnea

Neck Infections

IIA

20

56/M

Combined

No

Yes

Dysphagia

Neck Infections

IIA

21

22/M

Combined

No

Yes

Fever, Decreased LOC

Periodontal

I

22

69/F

Neck Exploration

Yes

No

Neck pain, Fever, Tachycardia

Periodontal

IIA

Multiple neck abscesses with involvement of upper anterior mediastinum (CT)

23

19/M

Neck Exploration

Yes

No

Neck pain

Periodontal

I

24

51/F

Combined

No

Yes

Neck pain

Neck Infections

I

25

77/M

Combined

No

Yes

Neck pain, Chest pain

Neck Infections

IIC

Neck abscess extending to retrosternal space above the level of carina (CT);

Ludwig angina