title: Lemierre syndrome: study of 11 cases and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lemierre syndrome is a rare but serious illness that associates throat infection and thrombosis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) or one of its tributaries with subsequent distant septic emboli. The purpose of our study was to review the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment of this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with confirmed Lemierre syndrome were included in our retrospective monocentric study. All patients had bacteriologic analyses as well as radiologic imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 11 patients in our study (from 1998-2012). Fusobacterium necrophorum was responsible for the infection in 45% of cases. Surgical drainage of pharyngeal, cervical, or mediastinal abscesses was carried out in 8 cases. All patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics. Six patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). One patient (9%) died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics is the primary choice of treatment of Lemierre syndrome. Surgery is indicated in case of abscess formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Grenoble University Hospital, Boulevard de la Chantourne, BP 217, 38043, Grenoble Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Christian Adrien
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Righini
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karkas
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tourniaire
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: N'Gouan
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmerber
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyt
authors.forename: Ihab
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Atallah
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D057831:Lemierre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D008795:Metronidazole; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D002443:Ceftriaxone
keywords: Fusobacterium necrophorum; Lemierre syndrome; internal jugular vein; lung abscess; oropharyngeal infection; septic thrombophlebitis