Oesophageal cancer presenting as Lemierre's syndrome caused by Streptococcus anginosus

Lemierre's Syndrome Caused by Streptococcus milleri Group

A 64-year-old woman was transported to the emergency room with a headache and fever. She presented with a right ocular protrusion, hyperemia, and tenderness in the neck. Contrast-enhanced MRI of the head showed a high DWI signal in the bilateral sphenoid sinuses and contrast defects along the bilateral internal jugular and superior ophthalmic veins. Blood and CSF cultures revealed Streptococcus milleri group. Surgery was performed for Lemierre's syndrome secondary to sphenoid sinusitis. The patient was treated with antibiotics and anticoagulant therapy, but a duodenal ulcer and brain abscess thereafter developed. However, multidisciplinary endoscopic and surgical treatment saved her life.

Lemierre's Syndrome Due to Streptococcus anginosus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Lemierre's syndrome, also known as anaerobic post-anginal septicemia, necrobacillosis, and the "forgotten disease," is a rare manifestation. It is often presented with sepsis, sore throat, fever, neck pain, internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis/thrombosis, and septic emboli. The bacteria that are usually associated with the disease are Fusobacterium species, but it is also associated with Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and other bacterial species. The diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome is made based on evidence of septic thrombophlebitis, preceding oropharyngeal infection, and positive culture. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics directed toward the causative organism. The use of anticoagulation, although controversial, is shown to be beneficial by several studies. We describe a middle-aged patient who presented with a sore throat, neck pain, and dysphagia. Imaging of the neck and chest revealed right jugular thrombosis along with septic emboli in the lungs. The culture of the blood and pus drained from the peritonsillar abscess grew Streptococcus anginosus. In this study, we have illustrated the effective management of Lemierre's syndrome with antibiotics, anticoagulants, and needle aspiration of abscess.

Fusobacterium bacteremia presenting with inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis

Isolated mesenteric vein thrombosis associated with Fusobacterium is rare. Physicians should be aware regarding the association of Fusobacterium with thrombosis at various sites.

Lemierre's Syndrome Associated With Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Cerebellar Stroke

A 53-year-old woman with no past medical history presented to the Emergency Department with right frontal headache and ipsilateral neck pain. She was found to have right internal jugular vein thrombosis, right cerebellar stroke, meningitis, septic pulmonary emboli, and fusobacterium bacteremia, all consistent with a severe presentation of Lemierre's syndrome (LS). While LS is often preceded by nasopharyngeal infection, no such history was elicited from our patient. Instead, concomitant papillary thyroid cancer with extension to her right internal jugular vein was implicated. Prompt recognition of these multiple related processes led to a timely initiation of appropriate therapy for infection, stroke, and malignancy.

Atypical presentation of Lemierre's syndrome: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

The classic Lemierre's syndrome refers to a septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, usually caused by a Fusobacterium necrophorum infection starting in the oral cavity, and typically complicated by pulmonary emboli. However, unusual forms of the disorder have been rarely reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe an unusual case of a previously healthy 58-year-old male with Lemierre's syndrome, manifesting with lumbar pain and fever. A thrombosis of the iliac veins and abscesses in the right iliac and the left psoas muscles was diagnosed by a computed tomography scan, together with a right lung pneumonia complicated by pleural effusion and an L4-L5 spondylodiscitis. Blood culture and pus drainage were positive for Fusobacterium nucleatum and an atypical Lemierre's syndrome was suspected. The patient was treated with anticoagulant therapy for 12 weeks and intravenous antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks with a good evolution and resolution of the thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This case illustrates the thrombogenic and thromboembolic tendency of Fusobacterium nucleatum and its potential invasiveness, regardless of the site of primary infection. The concept of an atypical Lemierre's syndrome is redefined here to take into consideration non-cervical sites.

Lemierre's Syndrome Caused by Streptococcus anginosus Presenting as Postseptal Cellulitis in a Pediatric Patient

Lemierre's syndrome is an infrequent disease characterized by septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein followed by pulmonary embolism generally occurring after upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections. We present the case of a 15-year-old female patient with postseptal cellulitis and cervical abscess who developed pulmonary embolism and pleural effusion secondary to internal jugular vein thrombosis. Cultures were positive for Streptococcus anginosus, antibiotic treatment was established with satisfactory clinical outcome. High clinical suspicion is required for a diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment is a multidisciplinary approach based on two essential pillars: antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage. This is an important case because of the unusual presentation, the isolation of an infrequent pathogen, and the primary infection site (postseptal cellulitis), which are rare characteristics of this condition in the pediatric population.

Lemierre's syndrome: Case report and brief literature review

Lemierre’s syndrome has been shown to be increasing in incidence in the past 20 years with one popular suggesting that said rise occurred from less aggressive antibacterial coverage. We report a case of Lemierre’s syndrome and also reviewed the 15 most recent case reports. A previously healthy 25 year old male who initially developed sore throat and flu-like symptoms, was prescribed antibacterials as an outpatient but was hospitalized for worsening symptoms. He was later diagnosed with Lemierre’s syndrome and improved clinically with IV antimicrobials alone. From our concise literature review, we determined that a decrease in antibiotic prescriptions may not fully explain why the incidence of Lemierre’s has been increasing. Thus, future research should be focused in evaluating possible worsening susceptibilities to antibiotics and improvements on detection. We also advise physicians to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this rare but potentially fatal condition as well as the available detection methods and treatment