Lemierre syndrome: case report

Lemierre syndrome is a rare disease. It often affects young adults and is most frequently caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. The initial event is pharyngitis, which extends to the internal jugular vein, serving as source of continuous bacteremia and septic pulmonary emboli. Clinical manifestations include fever, respiratory distress, and swollen cervical lymph nodes. Diagnosis is established based on blood culture or direct blood culture and confirmed by computed tomography and/or duplex scan. Treatment consists of administration of beta-lactamase resistant beta-lactam antibiotics. Surgical exploration is rarely required. A 34-year-old woman with acute oropharyngeal infection presented 48 hours later with prostration, fever, and swollen and painful cervical lymph nodes on the left side of the neck. Chest radiography and tomography demonstrated multiple lung lesions. Computed tomography and duplex scan demonstrated thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, compatible with acute suppurative thrombophlebitis, also known as Lemierre syndrome. The patient received antibiotics and had clinical recovery. A control duplex scan demonstrated partial recanalization of the internal jugular vein.