Lemierre syndrome was first documented in the literature in 1936, and is defined as septic
thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. It is typically a result of oropharyngeal
infection causing local soft tissue
inflammation, which spreads to vasculature, and promotes formation of septic thrombi within the lumen, persistent
bacteremia, and septic emboli. We present the case of a 24-year-old incarcerated man, who presented with
leukocytosis and a right-sided tender, swollen neck after undergoing left mandibular molar extraction for an infected tooth. Computed tomography revealed a persistent
thrombus in the transverse and sigmoid sinuses bilaterally, extending downwards, into the upper jugular veins. He was started on empiric intravenous
vancomycin,
zosyn, and
heparin, but subsequently demonstrated
heparin resistance, and was thus anticoagulated with a
lovenox bridge to
warfarin. Throughout his hospital course, hemocultures demonstrated no growth, so
antibiotic treatment was deescalated to oral
metronidazole and
ceftriaxone. On discharge, the patient was transitioned to oral
amoxicillin and
metronidazole for an additional 4 weeks with continuation of anticoagulation with
warfarin for a total of 3 to 6 months. This case report details a unique presentation of
Lemierre syndrome with bilateral transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus, and internal jugular vein
thrombosis that was presumably secondary to an odontogenic infectious focus.