Post-assault brachial vein thrombosis in an adolescent female: Diagnosis by CT angiography
Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) is an uncommon clinical entity in adolescents, most often linked to central venous catheters or hypercoagulable states. Trauma-induced UEDVT is rare and challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs that can mimic infection or soft tissue injury. We report an 18-year-old female who developed post-traumatic swelling and tenderness of the right forearm after being beaten by her school teacher. Initial non-contrast CT revealed subcutaneous edema without fracture. Subsequent CT angiography identified right brachial vein thrombosis with prominent collateral veins, confirming venous outflow obstruction. Early diagnosis allowed timely initiation of anticoagulation therapy, preventing complications. This case emphasizes CT angiography's diagnostic value in evaluating post-assault upper limb vascular injuries.
Authors
- James Sumawe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0974-2194)
Institutions
- Mbeya University of Science and Technology (TZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Radiology Case Reports
- Published
- 2026-04-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2026.03.055
- Primary Topic
- Vascular Procedures and Complications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00