What is Trousseau sign?
- Trousseau sign consists of superficial migratory thrombophlebitis associated with an underlying malignancy.
- Clinically it presents as erythematous linear cords that affect the superficial veins of the extremities and trunk.
- Patients typically continue to develop new lesions at multiple sites that may appear to migrate .
- Trousseau sign may be seen in association with many types of GI malignancies (e.g., gastric carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma) in addition to lung carcinoma, multiple myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease.
- The pathogenesis is not understood and the thrombophlebitis is notoriously resistant to anticoagulant therapy.
- It was a cruel coincidence that the physician who described this sign, Dr. Trousseau, was himself to develop Trousseau sign secondary to his underlying gastric carcinoma, which was ultimately fatal.