Objective To analyze the clinical character, diagnosis and treatment of badly necrotic pyogenic infection in cervi- cal part with pneumatosis of vomica.Methods The clinical character, diagnosis and treatment of badly necrotic pyogenic infec- tion in cervical part with pneumatosis of vomica of 46 cases were investigated retrospectively.Results Lateral and bilateral neck infection caseswere 38 and 8 respectively. 30 cases formed primary pyogenic infection in cervical partwith pneumatosis of vomica, and 16 did from adjacent sites. Besides the characters of the acute infection, gas storage in deep cervical part abscesswas notable. CT and BUltrasonic examination provided useful informations such as sizes, shapes, capacity, extents of abscess and the relation- ship between the abscess and vessel or vital organ. Diagnosis puncture and germiculturewere performed before and after operation. The results showed that 25 of 46 caseswere infected by staphylococcus or streptococcus, and 21 cases did by other bacterium. Ex- ploration and drainage treatments were performed. All cases were cured except 2 died.Conclusion Diagnostic puncture, CT and/or B Ultrasonic examination are essential for diagnosis and presurgical planning. Germiculture provides reliable evidence for finding pathogeny and therapy. The most possibilities of pyogenic infection with pneumatosis of vomica in cervical part are the ac- tion of aerogenic bacterium, infection both in cervical part and chest or swallowing movement of pharynx.
