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Trousseau syndrome - gallbladder carcinoma presenting with bilateral lower limb migratory deep vein thrombosis and superficial thrombophlebitis

Case contributed by Mohammad A. ElBeialy
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Right leg pain and swelling for 2 days followed by dyspnea, chest pain, and fever. The patient gave a history of chronic DVT of the left lower limb.

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Female

Extensive acute deep vein thrombosis extending from the right common femoral vein up to the right posterior tibial vein at the level of the medial malleolus. The long saphenous vein is thrombosed as well. Subcutaneous edema of the entire right lower limb is noted.

Subacute to chronic extensive DVT of the left lower limb veins with superficial thrombophlebitis of the left great saphenous vein. 

MSCT angiography of the pulmonary artery:

Multiple non-enhancing filling defects are noted within the distal right main pulmonary, as well as the superior and inferior branches down to their 1st, 2nd and 3rd order branches, consistent with acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

The main pulmonary artery is patent, yet dilated up to 3.8 cm at its maximum diameter. The left main pulmonary and its branches are patent and homogeneously opacified. Mild cardiomegaly with concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle. Mild atherosclerotic changes of the left anterior descending coronary artery is noted. No pleural or pericardial sac collection.

Incidental note of an enlarged left thyroid lobe with ~5 x 3 cm isodense lesion showing retrosternal extension abutting the superior mediastinal vessels and mildly deviating the trachea to the right side. Mild mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Bovine aortic arch with the left CCA arising in common origin with the brachiocephalic artery. The left vertebral artery arises directly from the aortic arch as well.

The scanned upper abdomen shows fatty hepatomegaly as well as mild splenomegaly and minimal perihepatic ascites.

Biphasic MSCT of the lower extremities (arterial and venous phases):

Irregular gallbladder wall thickening with an enhancing gallbladder fundal mass lesion is seen that measures about 3.5 x 2.5 cm in maximal size with ill-definition and infiltration of the gallbladder fossa as well as thickening of omentum with heterogeneously enhancing omental soft tissue sheets abutting the anterior abdominal wall (omental cake) and small amount of ascites consistent with gallbladder carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Extensive thrombosis of the right lower limb veins from the right popliteal vein to the right external iliac vein. All veins are occluded by a soft tissue thrombus and show mild wall enhancement. Severe subcutaneous soft tissue edema is noted around the whole right lower limb as well as a subcutaneous fluid collection at the right side of the anterior abdominal wall.

The left external iliac vein, CFV and FV are slightly reduced in caliber and show partial opacification of the contrast, however, with multiple discrete filling defects representing chronic thrombosis.

Multiple soft and calcific atheromatous plaques are noted along the abdominal aorta, however, no evidence of occlusion or significant stenosis. Normal perfusion of arterial system to both lower limbs with no evidence of compartment syndrome or signs of arterial insufficiency.

Case Discussion

Migratory DVT and bilateral superficial thrombophlebitis of the left then right lower limbs were the early signs of a yet to be diagnosed gall bladder carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Trousseau syndrome is a cancer-induced hypercoagulable status with usually undiagnosed - or yet to be diagnosed - cancer that can present with migratory deep venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, acute cerebral infarction, or non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis.

It must be suspected in elderly patients developing DVT or superficial thrombophlebitis with no definite underlying or predisposing factors. Transient and migratory DVT or superficial thrombophlebitis should prompt the work-up for underlying undiagnosed malignancy in these patients.

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