Lemierre’s syndrome presenting with arterial and Central nervous system involvement

Abstract

A 17-year-old male presented with acute onset right-sided facial swelling, trismus, pharyngitis, and sepsis. An initial CT abdomen and pelvis revealed multifocal bilateral nodular cavitary lung lesions. CT soft tissue neck with contrast demonstrated a parapharyngeal abscess and thrombophlebitis of the right internal jugular vein. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with Lemierre’s syndrome. On the following day, the patient’s neurological status markedly declined. Brain MRI/MRA/MRV showed right internal carotid artery narrowing, multiple areas of acute and subacute infarctions secondary to vasculitis, meningitis, venous sinus thrombosis, and intracerebral abscesses. Workup for primary causes of intracranial vasculitis were negative. Although commonly presented as venous disease, this case highlights a rare presentation of Lemierre’s syndrome with arterial involvement and significant intracranial complications. Clinicians should consider vasculitis and central nervous system involvement as potential complications of Lemierre’s syndrome rather than searching for separate etiologies.