A Case of Postanginal Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Septic Emboli

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 10-days history of sore throat, fever and a 3-days history of painful left neck mass. She had been treated with Cefixime, owing to complains of sore throat and fever at another primary clinic. Her throat examination showed mild erythema. A painful neck mass on the left side was observed. Laboratory findings were as follows: white blood cell count, 11,220/L; and C-reactive protein, 16.9 mg/dL. No organism was isolated from blood culture. Enhanced cervical computed tomography (CT) revealed enlargement of the left internal jugular vein, in which hypodense lesions compatible with thrombosis could be seen. High-resolution chest CT revealed patchy opacities compatible with pulmonary septic emboli. Although septicemia was not demonstrated in blood culture, probably because she was already taking antibiotics, the patient was diagnosed with Lemierre’s syndrome.