Internal jugular vein thrombosis, Lemierre's syndrome; Oropharyngeal infection with antibiotic and anticoagulation therapy - A case report

The authors present a case of Lemierre's syndrome that is an uncommon septi c thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. A 31-year-old man develope d pharyngeal pain one month before hospital admission when he suffered from a severe headache and painful swelling of the left side of his neck. He wa s diagnosed with tonsillitis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and mag netic resonance imaging of the neck revealed the presence of an occlusive t hrombosis of the left internal jugular vein and an inflamed mesopharynx. Hi s symptoms and the jugular vein thrombus showed remarkable improvement afte r administration of antibiotic and anticoagulation therapy. No pulmonary em bolism or other metastatic infection were observed. It was suggested that a ccurate diagnosis during early treatment is essential to obtain a successfu l prognosis for Lemierre's syndrome.