Septic pulmonary emboli complicating mastoiditis: Lemierre's syndrome revisited.
Deep neck-space infections may cause potentially life-threatening complications of head and neck infections. Lateral pharyngeal space infections in particular predispose to development of suppurative jugular vein thrombosis, which may be associated with anaerobic bacteremia and septic pulmonary emboli (Lemierre's syndrome). We describe a case of Lemierre's syndrome, a very rare entity in the antibiotic era, complicating mastoiditis. Surgical debridement and drainage in conjunction with antibiotic therapy resulted in prompt improvement in the patient's condition.
Hughes
C E
CE
Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Medical Center, Evansville, Indiana 47750.
Spear
R K
RK
Shinabarger
C E
CE
Tuna
I C
IC
D000293:Adolescent; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013577:Syndrome; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed