Axillary artery thrombosis in a baseball pitcher

Abstract

Isolated nonatherosclerotic axillary artery disease is a rare condition. External axillary artery compression can result in occlusion or aneurysm formation and subsequent upper extremity ischemia or distal thromboembolism. Chronic compression from use of crutches and repetitive stretching/compression of the axillary artery secondary to overhead motion during high-performance athletic activities are often implicated as the cause. The uniqueness of these lesions and clinical setting requires a high index of suspicion for axillary artery pathology. Prompt diagnosis with arteriography and surgical treatment is necessary given the propensity for thromboembolism. We present a case highlighting this rare phenomenon in a collegiate baseball pitcher.