Acute arterial occlusion in a patient with recurrent cervical cancer

Acute limb ischemia is a medical emergency and can usually be attributed to arterial thrombosis or embolization. An 89-year-old woman with advanced cervical cancer presented to the emergency room complaining of several days of increasing pain in the left foot and lower leg, along with increasing discoloration. Examination revealed a cyanotic, cool distal left lower extremity. The patient underwent an arteriogram, which was consistent with arterial occlusion. After discussion with the patient and her family, the decision was made to provide palliative measures only; she died on hospital day 7. The early diagnosis of acute limb ischemia is critical in allowing the widest range of treatment options and limb salvage. A rare case of arterial thrombosis in a patient with advanced cervical cancer is described. In an elderly person with advanced malignancy and arterial thrombosis, treatment options are likely to be limited.