Lemierre syndrome : Three cases of "the forgotten" disease

Lemierre syndrome is a rare clinical entity involving oropharyngeal infection and anaerobic bacteremia, followed by jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis with embolization and metastatic abscess formation in the lungs, liver, and other organs. Even though it occurs less frequently than in the pre-antibiotic era, it is still important both as a pathologist and as a clinician to recognize the typical presentation because of its lethal potential. Three clinically undiagnosed cases with lethal outcomes are described. All three cases presented as unexpected death, and all were autopsied at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus.