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Synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of the penis and scrotum was described first by Fournier and remains a rare but life-threatening disease. In Fournier's initial description the process was believed to be idiopathic. During the last 10 years we have treated 20 patients with Fournier's gangrene and a definite urologic or colorectal cause could be identified as the source of the infection in 19 (95 per cent). Despite the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and aggressive surgical débridement the mortality rate was 45 per cent.
Spirnak et al. (Wed,) studied this question.