An invasive Fusobacterium infection may originate from an apparent routine 
pharyngitis and lead to significant distant septic complications. Even without 
internal jugular thrombosis, the same mechanism of disease exists, and 
therefore, the same morbidity, prognosis, and treatments are applicable, hence 
the suitable term incomplete Lemierre syndrome. We present a case of invasive 
Fusobacterium infection that meets all criteria for Lemierre syndrome except 
lacking internal jugular thrombosis. A review of the literature that forms the 
diagnostic criteria for this syndrome and the rationale for our creating this 
novel term is presented.