Lemierre's syndrome: A rare cause of septic emboli in a young adult

Lemierre's syndrome is a deadly disease that is often over-looked due to its rarity. In this report, a 21-year-old Caucasian woman, with no past medical history, presented to a walk-in in clinic and twice to an emergency department between January 30th, 2020 and February 5th, 2020 for progression of fevers, sore throat, neck, and pleuritic chest pain. The patient was sent home her first 2 visits with an incorrect diagnosis. Despite having a presentation consistent with Lemierre's syndrome, on her third visit, she underwent an extensive work-up investigating other etiologies prior to receiving a correct diagnosis and adequate treatment. This case demonstrates how a thorough history and physical exam can aid Radiologists in expediting the diagnostic process for a potentially fatal disease. Although rare, a history of pharyngitis and neck pain in a septic patient should help Radiologists to exclude more common etiologies which, through their investigations, prolong life-saving treatment.