Thromboembolism from occult subclavian arterial stenosis during chemotherapy for breast carcinoma.
Cancer chemotherapy has been associated with hypercoagulability, causing thromboembolic complications. Three unusual and strikingly similar cases of upper-extremity arterial thromboembolism were encountered in women undergoing chemotherapy following surgical treatment for breast carcinoma. In all cases, previously asymptomatic stenosis of the subclavian artery due to extrinsic cause was suspected as the source of distal thromboembolism. These cases illustrate the interplay between transient hypercoagulability and underlying arterial disease in the pathogenesis of arterial thromboembolism.
Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
M C
MC
Donaldson
A D
AD
Whittemore
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*