A 52-year-old man presents to the emergency department because of pain and swelling in his left leg over the past few hours. He traveled from Sydney to Los Angeles 2 days ago. He has had type 2 diabetes mellitus for 10 years and takes metformin for it. He has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 25 years. His temperature is 36.9°C (98.4°F), the blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, and the pulse is 90/min. On examination, the left calf is 5 cm greater in circumference than the right. The left leg appears more erythematous than the right with dilated superficial veins. Venous duplex ultrasound shows non-compressibility. Which of the following best represents the mechanism of this patient’s illness?
AImpaired venous blood flow
BSubcutaneous soft-tissue infection that may extend to the deep fascia
CInfection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues
DImpaired arterial blood flow
EImpaired lymphatic flow
A 76-year-old woman is brought to the physician because of lesions on her left arm. She first noticed them 3 months ago and they have grown larger since that time. She has not had any pain or pruritus in the area. She has a history of invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast, which was treated with mastectomy and radiation therapy 27 years ago. Since that time, she has had lymphedema of the left arm. Physical examination shows extensive edema of the left arm. There are four coalescing, firm, purple-blue nodules on the left lateral axillary region and swelling of the surrounding skin. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
AThrombophlebitis
BCellulitis
CMelanoma
DAngiosarcoma
EKaposi sarcoma
A 93-year-old woman is brought to the physician because of a purple area on her right arm that has been growing for one month. She has not had any pain or itching of the area. She has hyperlipidemia, a history of basal cell carcinoma treated with Mohs surgery 2 years ago, and a history of invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast treated with radical mastectomy 57 years ago. She has had chronic lymphedema of the right upper extremity since the mastectomy. Her only medication is simvastatin. She lives in an assisted living facility. She is content with her living arrangement but feels guilty that she is dependent on others. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows extensive edema of the right arm. Skin exam of the proximal upper right extremity shows three coalescing, 0.5–1.0 cm heterogeneous, purple-colored plaques with associated ulceration. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
ALymphangiosarcoma
BCellulitis
CThrombophlebitis
DKaposi sarcoma
ELichen planus
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