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Lemierre’s syndrome as a consequence of acute supraglottitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Andrew Hope
Affiliation:
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
Nigel Bleach
Affiliation:
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
Sabour Ghiacy
Affiliation:
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK

Abstract

Lemierre’s syndrome comprises internal jugular vein thrombosis following oropharyngeal sepsis and is a rare and serious condition. It is most commonly caused by the anaerobe Fusobacterium necrophorum and typically presents as metastatic sepsis to the lungs and joints. Thrombosis is demonstrated by computed tomography (CT) of the neck, and it is routinely treated with intravenous antibiotics and anti-coagulation.

We describe a case of Lemierre’s syndrome following acute supraglottitis. The clinical features were of retrograde intracranial thrombosis, rather than the more usual metastatic sepsis.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2002

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