[Subclavian thrombosis after port system implantation]

The use of implanted central venous catheters with ports has become almost irreplaceable in clinical treatment of cancer patients with advanced disease. It improves the patient's quality of life and simplifies medical treatment. For safe use during outpatient follow-up treatment, possible complications such as wound infections, thrombosis or even pulmonary embolism have to be considered. The incidence of catheter-associated thrombosis in cancer patients has been estimated as 25-66% in screening evaluations. Clinical symptoms were present in only in 6-28% of all patients with diagnosed thromboses. We report on a patient with metastatic malignant melanoma, who developed a deep arm vein thrombosis two weeks after port implantation. The prognosis of deep arm vein thrombosis is determined by the development of pulmonary embolism (8-36%). In such cases, early diagnosis and treatment are essential for the patient's survival.