J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2013 Apr;39(2):85-89. 10.5125/jkaoms.2013.39.2.85.

Lemierre syndrome with thrombosis of sigmoid sinus following dental extraction: a case report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. jinychoi@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Lemierre syndrome is caused by an infection in the oropharyngeal region with subsequent thrombophlebitis in the internal jugular vein. The thrombus from the thrombophlebitis can invade other vital organs, such as liver, lungs, or joints, resulting in secondary infection, which further exacerbates the fatal prognosis of this syndrome. Lemierre syndrome, also called postanginal sepsis or necrobacillosis, was first reported by Dr. Lemierre in 1936. In his report, Lemierre mentioned that out of 20 patients who suffered from this syndrome, only two survived. He also stated that all of the 20 patients complained of infections in the palatine tonsils and developed sepsis and thrombophlebitis in the internal jugular vein. Once called a "forgotten disease," this syndrome showed a very high mortality rate until usage of antibiotics became prevalent. In this case report, the authors present a 71-year-old female patient who suffered from Lemierre syndrome with thrombosis extended to the right sigmoid sinus.

Keyword

Lemierre syndrome; Postanginal sepsis; Fusobacterium infections; Fusobacterium necrophorum

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Coinfection
Colon, Sigmoid
Female
Fusobacterium Infections
Fusobacterium necrophorum
Humans
Joints
Jugular Veins
Lemierre Syndrome
Liver
Lung
Palatine Tonsil
Prognosis
Sepsis
Thrombophlebitis
Thrombosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography showing thrombosis in the right internal jugular vein (arrow).

  • Fig. 2 Contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography showing thrombosis in the right sigmoid sinus (arrow).

  • Fig. 3 Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showing pervasive infection with abscess formation could be seen in the right masseteric and parotid (arrow).


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