Walsh & Hoyt: Causes

Thrombosis of the jugular vein may result from a number of diverse clinical conditions. In the postantibiotic era, infectious thrombosis of the jugular vein is uncommon. Septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) was first described in 1936 by Lemierre and is sometimes referred to as Lemierres syndrome. It is usually caused by fulminant head and neck infections, particularly deep neck abscesses and pharyngitis. Additional causes include parotitis, dental manipulation, and injection of narcotics directly in the neck veins. The pathogens generally responsible for the septic thrombosis of the IJV include aerobic and anaerobic streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, and anaerobic Gram-positive bacilli.