Glossary of Terms in Otolaryngology

Lemierre’s Syndrome

  • Lemierre’s Syndrome is an infectious thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein due to an infection from an oropharyngeal source.1
    • It is most commonly caused by anaerobic organisms, especially Fusobacterium necrophorum, and is typically seen in young adults.2
    • Treatment includes appropriate antibiotics as well as surgical source control if indicated.
    • The role of anticoagulation in Lemierre’s Syndrome is controversial and not well studied.

  1. Lemierre, André. “On certain septicaemias due to anaerobic organisms.” The Lancet 227.5874 (1936): 701-703. ↩

  2. Karkos, Peter D., et al. “Lemierre’s syndrome: a systematic review.” The Laryngoscope 119.8 (2009): 1552-1559. ↩

Last updated October 11, 2022
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