Lemierre syndrome: a Japanese patient returning from Thailand

After returning from Thailand, a 23-year-old Japanese man was admitted because of fever, sore throat, neck pain, and chest pain. Contrasted-enhanced CT scanning of his neck revealed an absence of flow through the right internal jugular vein representing thrombosis, and moreover, an increase in wall thickness of the right internal jugular vein and enhancement of the surrounding tissue representing thrombophlebitis. Lung abscesses were also identified by a chest CT scan. Fusobacterium nucleatum was cultured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. He was diagnosed with Lemierre syndrome, and a good result was obtained by the administration of antibiotics. Physicians are encouraged to be aware of this syndrome when they manage patients complaining of neck pain and fever.