Segmental, thrombosis, acute and chronic inflammation of medium/small arteries is a feature of which disease?

Segmental, thrombosis, acute and chronic inflammation of medium/small arteries is a feature of which disease?

• A. Wegener granulomatosis
• B. Raynaud phenomenon
• C. Buerger disease
• D. Varicose veins

Answer: (C)

This pattern is thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease). It features segmental, thrombosing inflammation of medium- and small arteries, often with extension into adjacent veins and nerves. The thrombus can contain microabscesses and is accompanied by acute and chronic inflammatory changes, leading to distal ischemia in the extremities. The strong link to smoking and the characteristic involvement of vessels in the limbs help distinguish it from other vasculitides. By contrast, Wegener (GPA) shows necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis with systemic involvement, Raynaud phenomenon is a functional vasospasm, and varicose veins are venous, not arterial, abnormalities.

This pattern is thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease). It features segmental, thrombosing inflammation of medium- and small arteries, often with extension into adjacent veins and nerves. The thrombus can contain microabscesses and is accompanied by acute and chronic inflammatory changes, leading to distal ischemia in the extremities. The strong link to smoking and the characteristic involvement of vessels in the limbs help distinguish it from other vasculitides. By contrast, Wegener (GPA) shows necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis with systemic involvement, Raynaud phenomenon is a functional vasospasm, and varicose veins are venous, not arterial, abnormalities.