A Pediatric Radiology Textbook and Pediatric Radiology Digital Library
Pediatric Lemierre Syndrome
Etiology: Complication of bacterial pharyngitis or tonsilitis with internal jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis caused by Fusobacterium leading to hematogenous spread to pulmonary artery end arteries with septic pulmonary emboli
Imaging: — Thrombus in internal jugular vein — Pulmonary nodules with fluffy margins and cavitation
DDX:
Complications: Can also cause multifocal osteomyelitis
Treatment: Antibiotics
Clinical:
Radiology Cases of Lemierre Syndrome
Axial CT without contrast of the chest (above) shows multiple cavitary nodules within the lungs bilaterally. Sagittal spectral doppler US of the left internal jugular vein (below) shows thickening of the wall of the vein and no flow within.
