Soft-tissue sarcomas in the inguinal region may present as deep vein thrombosis

Makoto Emori; Norifumi Naka; Ken-Ichiro Hamada; Yasuhiko Tomita; Hiroshi Takami; Nobuhito Araki

doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2010.03.001

Soft-tissue sarcomas in the inguinal region may present as deep vein thrombosis

Ann Vasc Surg. 2010 Oct;24(7):951.e7-951.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2010.03.001. Epub 2010 May 14.

Authors

Makoto Emori¹, Norifumi Naka, Ken-Ichiro Hamada, Yasuhiko Tomita, Hiroshi Takami, Nobuhito Araki

Affiliation

¹ Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan. [email protected]

PMID: 20471794
DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2010.03.001

Abstract

Swelling, pain, and discoloration in the affected extremities are classic symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), although these symptoms are often unreliable for diagnosis, and wide differential diagnoses exist. Soft-tissue sarcomas arising in the inguinal region may encompass or be adjacent to femoral vessels and result in venous obstruction, mimicking symptoms of DVT. We present two cases of soft-tissue sarcomas in the inguinal region that were initially misdiagnosed as spontaneous DVT and administered unnecessary long-term anticoagulation therapy. In patients diagnosed with unprovoked DVT, especially young patients aged <45 years, we recommend a careful physical examination and ultrasonography in the inguinal region to prevent overlooking possible underlying malignancy, as delays in diagnosis may affect prognosis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
Biopsy
Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Constriction, Pathologic
Diagnostic Errors*
Edema / etiology
Fatal Outcome
Female
Humans
Leiomyosarcoma / complications
Leiomyosarcoma / diagnosis*
Leiomyosarcoma / secondary
Leiomyosarcoma / therapy
Lower Extremity / blood supply*
Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
Lung Neoplasms / secondary
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neoadjuvant Therapy
Sarcoma, Synovial / complications
Sarcoma, Synovial / diagnosis*
Sarcoma, Synovial / secondary
Sarcoma, Synovial / therapy
Soft Tissue Neoplasms / complications
Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology
Soft Tissue Neoplasms / therapy
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
Unnecessary Procedures
Vascular Diseases / diagnosis
Vascular Diseases / etiology*
Vascular Diseases / surgery
Veins / pathology
Venous Thrombosis / diagnosis*
Venous Thrombosis / drug therapy

Substances

Anticoagulants