Femoral necrosis due to occlusion of the left common iliac artery in a patient with thromboangiitis obliterans

Abstract

AbstractThromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) is a non-arteriosclerotic inflammatory vascular disease of unknown etiology that occurs almost exclusively in young male smokers. Involvement of small arteries and veins leads to ischemic changes in the distal extremities. The authors report an unusual case of Buerger's disease in a 38-year-old man, who had a smoking history (20 cigarettes/day) of several years, presenting as acute necrosis of the left femoral region due to abrupt vascular occlusion of the left common iliac artery. This case suggests that the proximal arteries can be involved in Buerger's disease, and that patients with Buerger's disease are at risk for proximal progression of the disease.