A Case of Deep Venous Thrombosis Occurring After Tongue Cancer Surgery

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman underwent hemilateral resection of the mobile tongue and right modified radical neck dissection after preoperative chemotherapy following a diagnosis of tongue cancer, T2N1M0. Fever and swelling of the left lower limb occurred 34 days after surgery. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) examinations suggested left femoral venous thrombosis. Immediately, anticoagulant fibrinogenolysis therapy for thrombosis was administered. Thereafter, fever and swelling of the left lower limb gradually subsided without complications such as pulmonary embolism. The presence of cancer, the patient's advanced age, major surgery for 5 hours, and preoperative chemotherapy were considered to the main factors for thrombus formation. To date, the patient's recovery has been good without recurrent thrombosis.