A Novel Account of the 'Forgotten Disease'

Septic thrombophlebitis of Internal Jugular Vein (IJV) secondary to head neck infection, demonstrated by Lemierre in 1936,  is a rare although known entity. Case Report A 35 year old known diabetic female patient presented in the ENT OPDwith complaints of excruciating pain and swelling on the left side of theneck for past three weeks. A tender neck mass of around 8cm x 5cm inthe left side of neck along the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid waspalpable. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of neck revealed a thrombosed left internal jugular vein along with adjoining left sided level 2 and 3 suppurative cervical lymphadenopathy. She was treated conservatively with broad spectrum antibiotics and the patient improved after prolonged treatment.  Discussion Lemierre syndrome has been appropriately termed as a forgotten disease. This has been an important cause of missed cases. High suspicion of IJV thrombosis in head neck infections, more so in the oropharyngeal infection is the key to diagnosis.