[A case of Lemierre syndrome]

Abstract

We present a case of Lemierre syndrome characterized by thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein with multiple metastatic foci after acute otopharyngeal infection in a 30-year-old woman. Despite treatment with tonsillectomy leading to a diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess, her condition worsened and she was admitted with high fever. Chest radiograph and CT scan of the thorax revealed multiple pulmonary cavities and pleural effusion on the right side. On neck CT, a thrombus was detected in the left internal jugular vein. She received with intravenous clindamycin (CLDM) and cefepime (CFPM) and progressively improved. Although Lemierre syndrome is a relatively uncommon disease with the potentially life-threatening complication of acute pharyngotonsillitis, this syndrome should be considered in cases of severe tonsillitis or pharyngitis.