A complex case of retropharyngeal and mediastinal abscess during the Covid-19 pandemic: Lemierre's syndrome

Ahmet Aksoy; Fatih Bingöl; Alper Kızıloğlu

doi:10.28982/josam.867640

Authors

Ahmet Aksoy Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kulak Burun Boğaz Hastalıkları A.D. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7744-8124
Fatih Bingöl https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8260-0349
Alper Kızıloğlu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6921-8716

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.867640

Keywords:

Lemierre’s syndrome, Internal jugular vein, Retropharyngeal abscess, COVID-19

Abstract

Lemierre’s syndrome, which is commonly observed in healthy adolescents and young adults, is characterized by septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and is usually observed after an oropharyngeal infection. At the time of the pandemic, as a result of so many patients COVID-19, similar symptoms were initially diagnosed as a possible coronavirus case and followed up with a possible diagnosis of COVID-19 before being consulted. We present the case of a 23-year-old male patient, who was referred to our clinic with complaints of fever, sore throat, dysphagia, shortness of breath, and chest pain. A retropharyngeal and mediastinal abscess occurred after these symptoms were successfully treated with surgical and medical interventions. The patient was initially considered a potential case of COVID-19 and followed as such. COVID-19 was then excluded, and the patient was reported to have an abscess extending from the retropharyngeal area to the mediastinum. We aim to present the diagnosis and treatment of Lemierre’s syndrome based on a literature review.

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