Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease) in an Adolescent Male

Arterial occlusive disease of the limb is very rare in children. Buerger's disease (BD) is a nonatherosclerotic, segmental inflammatory arteritis affecting the small and medium-sized vessels of the extremities. We report BD in a 16-year-old male presenting with arterial insufficiency of left foot and history of smoking cigarettes and cannabis for 2 years. BD was diagnosed based on history of smoking in combination with clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Pediatric hemato-oncologists should consider BD in the differential diagnosis in adolescents who smoke cigarettes and/or cannabis and present with vascular insufficiency of the hands and/or feet.

Automated summary

This case study presents a 16-year-old male with Buerger's disease (BD) characterized by arterial insufficiency of the left foot, with a history of smoking cigarettes and cannabis. Hemato-oncologists should consider BD as a differential diagnosis in adolescents with vascular insufficiency of the hands and/or feet who have a history of smoking.