When deep venous thrombosis fails to respond to therapy.
BACKGROUND
Deep venous thrombosis in primary care is usually treated with rest, analgesics, intravenous or low-molecular-weight heparin, and coumadin. In some cases, however, a less familiar course of diagnosis and management is required.


METHODS
We describe the case of a 53-year-old truck driver who had an acute deep venous thrombosis of his right lower extremity, which failed to respond to routine therapy with heparin and warfarin. A literature search was undertaken to research the differential diagnosis and management of deep venous thrombosis and to review specifically the role of venal caval filters and inherited thrombotic disorders and occult cancer in this context.


CONCLUSIONS
The ultimate diagnosis in our patient appeared to be signet ring cell cancer of the colon that had metastasized to the right thigh. This case is an example of the inherent limitations of even an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the entity of refractory deep venous thrombosis.
LaPorte
Dawn
D
Department of Family Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794, USA.
Farber
Sharon
S
Sorin
Sergei
S
Wabba
Sara
S
Daneels
Elizabeth
E
Korzenko
Adam
A
Kopes-Kerr
Colin P
CP
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin