Septic Thrombophlebitis of the Internal Jugular Vein (Lemierre's Syndrome): A Case Report

1,2,4 Lemierre's syndrome, also known as postanginal septicemia, is a rare but serious clinical entity with significant mortality and morbidity. The disease is usually caused by an anaerobic infection of the oropharynx, frequently with septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein complicated with mul- tiple metastatic infections. Herein, we present a 42-year-old man of Lemierre's syndrome diagnosed via enhanced computed tomography of the neck and blood culture (Fusobacterium necrophorum). He suffered from acute onset of sorethroat, dysphagia and fever with chills for several days. Septic pulmonary embolism was documented by the chest radiograph. Intravenous empiric antibiotics with augmentin ® and anticoagulation therapy with enoxaparin plus warfarin were administered. The patient was uneventful one week later and discharged without complications. Lemierre's syndrome is a rare and life-threatening disease, which usually affects young adults and typically presents as metastatic infection of the lung. De- layed recognition may lead to significant morbidity of metastatic infections and sepsis. Early and adequate administration of intravenous antibiotic therapy is generally associated with a good outcome.