Phlegmasia cerulea dolens of the upper extremity

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) is the term describing the painful venous c ongestion that results from near-total venous occlusion of a limb. It is un usual in the lower extremity but is decidedly rare in the upper extremity w ith only a handful of cases reported in the literature. PCD of the upper ex tremity usually occurs in patients with significant comorbid conditions suc h as severe cardiac failure or advanced malignancy. PCD of the upper extrem ity is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We present a ca se of upper extremity PCD in an elderly man with a complex medical history, complicated clinical course, and poor outcome that is typical for this rar e disease.