Scintigraphic assessment of persistent venous occlusion after primary axillary vein thrombosis.

A patient with persistent deep vein occlusion after primary axillary vein thrombosis is described. The patient underwent radionuclide venography about 16 months after thrombosis of the axillary vein had been diagnosed using X-ray venography. Prior to the study, the patient had been treated with anticoagulants. Persistent vein occlusion after thrombosis in patients with conservative management is a frequent occurrence. The possibility of using radionuclide venography in the follow-up of patients with axillary vein thrombosis is discussed.