Fatal bleeding from major femoral vessels: three case reports.

We present three unusual cases of fatal bleeding from eroded femoral blood vessels. Erosion was due to tumor metastases in one and abscess formation in two cases. Bleeding occurred from the femoral vein in two cases and from the femoral artery in one case. Extensive bloodstains at the death scene were suspicious of homicide, which was ruled out by medico-legal autopsy in all cases.