Exercise-induced venous thrombosis of the upper extremity: A case report

Abstract

Paget-Schroetter syndrome, the venous variant of thoracic outlet syndrome, is an uncommon presentation of deep vein thrombosis. In patients with Paget-Schroetter syndrome, the subclavian vein is compressed within the thoracic outlet as a result of repetitive and vigorous arm motions. Repeated endothelial injury leads to stasis in flow and eventual thrombus formation in the subclavian vein and its tributaries. This report highlights the case of an active and otherwise healthy 46-year-old patient who presented with swelling and pain of his right upper extremity after a run and was found to have multiple, effort-induced thrombi involving the right subclavian, axillary, brachial, and basilic veins. The unusual clinical picture of Paget-Schroetter syndrome and its presentation commonly in the demographic of young, healthy individuals make it a diagnosis likely overlooked and unfamiliar to many in the clinical setting.