Lower limb ischemic venous thrombosis in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma

Three cases of lower limb, deep venous thrombosis that progressed to ischemia in patients with advanced ovarian cancer are reported. One patient developed frank gangrene of the extremity. Venous stasis, secondary to venous compression from metastatic disease, was the predisposing factor in all cases. Heparin therapy was uniformly unsuccessful in halting progression of thrombosis. Ischemic thrombosis originating from extrinsic venous compression is unlikely to respond to conventional therapy alone. Local external radiation to metastatic sites, given early and possibly in conjunction with conventional treatment methods, may achieve a clinical response by causing a reduction in tumor size and thus relief of venous compression.