Abstract
Over a 10-year period 23 patients had a clinical diagnosis of axillary/subclavian vein thrombosis; excluded from the study are those thromboses secondary to carcinomatosis, local surgery or radiotherapy. At a median follow-up of 16 months (range 3–120), six patients had died and five patients had moved away. Twelve patients were reviewed (nine male and three female) with a median age of 30 years (range 18–62). All had been managed conservatively with arm elevation, heparinization and warfarin therapy. Five patients (42%) were clinically symptomatic, necessitating a change in employment in three patients (25%). Objective signs of chronic venous insufficiency were demonstrable in the same five patients (42%). Repeat venography was obtained in 11 patients, seven of whom were asymptomatic. Evidence of recanalization was seen in nine patients (82%); however, there was no correlation between clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. This disparity highlights the importance of clinical examination over persistent venographic changes in the evaluation of new treatment methods attempting to reduce the morbidity of this condition.
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