Medical image of the week: Lemierre syndrome

• Main Authors: Phillips E, Shehab Z, Lax D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2017-11-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: Lemierre; Lemierre's; syndrome; CT scan; Streptococcus anginosus; Fusobacterium necrophorum; internal jugular vein; thrombophlebitis; septic emboli; anaerobic
• Online Access: http://www.swjpcc.com/imaging/2017/11/15/medical-image-of-the-week-lemierre-syndrome.html

No abstract available. Article truncated at 150 words. A previously healthy 18-year-old girl was evaluated at an urgent care center for a three-day history of sore throat, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and myalgias; the diagnosis of influenza was made at that time. Four days later, she presented to our Emergency Department with sore throat, left sided neck pain and swelling, productive cough, fever, worsening dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. On examination her temperature was 36.9 C, heart rate was 142 beats per minute, and respiratory rate was 18 breaths per minute. She had enlarged tonsils without exudates, cervical and submandibular lymphadenopathy, and tenderness of her left lateral neck. Lung examination showed increased work of breathing with decreased breath sounds at the bases. Laboratory evaluation revealed an elevated white count (17,000 cells/µL) with 91% neutrophils, elevated blood urea nitrogen (21 mg/dL), creatinine (1.6 mg/dL), and venous lactate (4.0 mMol/L). Initial chest radiograph showed no evidence for acute cardiopulmonary process. …