Not All Pulmonary Densifications Are COVID-19: A Case Report About Lemierre's Syndrome

Lemierre's syndrome is a rare and a life-threatening disease characterized by anaerobic bacteraemia associated with thrombosis of the internal jugular vein. Odynophagia, otalgia, odontalgia, dyspnoea, cough and fever are the most frequent manifestations. We describe a case of a 37-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency room due to fever, odynophagia, dyspnoea, myalgia, and pleuritic chest pain. She had hypoxaemia and increased systemic inflammatory markers. The chest CT showed parenchymal densification compatible with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, although all three polymerase chain reaction testing were negative. The neck CT showed occlusion of the left cervical internal jugular vein. She was treated with antibiotics and was discharged. With the reported clinical case the authors intend to clarify the importance of differential diagnosis and the diagnosis of other infectious respiratory conditions at the time of a global pandemic.