Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the chest wall

Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the chest wall is a relatively rare but highly lethal surgical condition that has received little attention in the literature. The case of a 21-year-old female patient affected by this rare infection is reported. Our recent experience and literature data suggest that chest wall necrotizing soft tissue infection spreads rapidly and is highly lethal. High index of suspicion, early diagnosis, and aggressive approach are essential to its successful treatment. (C) 2002 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.