Principle arteries affected in Buerger disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)

Principle arteries affected in Buerger disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)

• A. Femoral, popliteal
• B. Tibial, radial
• C. Carotid, vertebral
• D. Axillary, brachial

Answer: (B)

Buerger disease is a segmental vasculitis that primarily targets small- to medium-sized arteries and veins of the distal extremities. The arteries most characteristically involved are the tibial arteries in the leg and the radial arteries in the forearm. This distal predilection explains symptoms like claudication, digital ulcers, and even autoamputation in smokers who are affected. The other choices involve larger or more proximal arteries (femoral/popliteal in the leg; carotid/vertebral in the neck; axillary/brachial in the arm), which are not the typical primary targets in this disease.

Buerger disease is a segmental vasculitis that primarily targets small- to medium-sized arteries and veins of the distal extremities. The arteries most characteristically involved are the tibial arteries in the leg and the radial arteries in the forearm. This distal predilection explains symptoms like claudication, digital ulcers, and even autoamputation in smokers who are affected. The other choices involve larger or more proximal arteries (femoral/popliteal in the leg; carotid/vertebral in the neck; axillary/brachial in the arm), which are not the typical primary targets in this disease.