Internal jugular vein thrombosis complicating cervicofacial infection of dental origin. Case report

Septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein or Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare form of metastatic septic thromboembolitis, typically involving superinfection with Fusobacterium Necrophorum, internal jugular vein thrombosis and remote septic emboli.CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old male was referred for a painful cervicofacial swelling on the left, obliteration of the buccal sulcus, as well as swelling of both the soft and hard palate and the floor of the mouth ipsilaterally, accompanied by severe trismus and difficulty in swallowing. The patient underwent intraoral and extraoral incisions and drainage of the affected anatomical spaces and tracheotomy. The patient’s clinical condition was steadily improving; following examination with CT scan,9 days post-op, internal jugular vein thrombosis was diagnosed. The patient was put on anticoagulants. The postoperative course continued uneventfully, and the patient was discharged. One month post-operatively the vessel was normal and anticoagulant treatment was discontinued.CONCLUSION: Since Lemierre’s syndrome is not only rare but also tends to be underdiagnosed when there is no obvious cause of sepsis, it should be included in the differential diagnosis if the patient’s general contition deteriorates in spite of the treatment.