A Case of Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Thromboembolism in a Severely Obese Man

Deep vein thrombosis is a predisposing condition for pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. Usually, deep vein thrombosis is found in the lower extremities, but it can also occur in the upper extremities. The prevalence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis appears to be increasing, particularly due to the increased use of indwelling central venous catheters. Pulmonary embolism is present in up to one-third of patients with upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis is an increasingly important clinical entity, with the potential for considerable morbidity. Here, we report a case of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in a severely obese man who was successfully treated with anticoagulants. (Korean J Med 2014;86:478-483)