Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) in women

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), or Buerger's disease, is a distinct clinicopathologic entity. It is a relatively uncommon cause of occlusive peripheral vascular disease. The disease is more prevalent in some geographic areas than in others, and there is a probable ethnic predisposition. Buerger's disease is decidedly rare in women; only 24 cases with histologic proof of the disease have ever been recorded, including 12 new cases described in this article. The clinical presentation and histopathology of TAO in women differ in no way from that in men. There is no evidence that the disease is milder in women, since 9 of the 12 in this series underwent amputation and the remaining 3 required reconstructive and bypass surgical intervention. Awareness of the entity and familiarity with the clinical, angiographic, and pathologic features of the disease are the key to a prompt and correct diagnosis of Buerger's disease.