Arterial Thromboembolism in a Patient With Cancer With Unclear Etiology

A 57-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented with acute ischemia of the left lower extremity. The patient was taken for emergent surgical thrombectomy of the common femoral artery and the thrombus was submitted for pathologic evaluation, which showed chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes commensurate in the thrombus. The patient had no classic risk factors for atherosclerosis. Although he does have active malignancy and is undergoing treatment, his current regimen has a low risk for thrombotic events. Furthermore, the histopathology indicates possible involvement of lymphocytes. This case highlights the need for more understanding of the mechanism of cancer-associated thromboembolic events.