Catheter-related arm-vein thrombosis in patients with cancer

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the arm was long believed to be an uncommon disorder caused by malrotation of the upper extremity, especially when associated with strenuous exercise. However, with the increasingly common use of subclavian venous access, arm DVT has been recognized to be more common than previously reported. It has been estimated that 13-35% of patients with subclavian catheters develop arm DVT, with catheterization estimated to account for about 40% of all subclavian vein thromboses.1