As postulated by Virchow, 1 three factors are of primary importance in the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT): abnormalities of blood flow, abnormalities of blood, and vascular injury (biochemical, local intimal trauma). The origin of DVT is frequently multifactorial, with components of Virchow's triad assuming variable importance in a given individual.Upper-extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for 1 to 4% of all cases of DVT. 2 UEDVT is most commonly the result of intimal damage from trauma (e.g., blunt, penetrating), venous cannulation (e.g., venous access lines and devices, intravenous drug abuse), mechanical irritation from indwelling catheters or pacemaker wires, or chemical irritation from infusates. 2 Less frequent causes of UEDVT include hypercoagulable states, malignancy, extrinsic compression by a mass (e.g., tumor, adenopathy), extrinsic anatomical impingement (e.g., PagetSchroetter syndrome), congenital and acquired webs, fibrosing mediastinitis, radiation, and increased resistance to venous return as a result of congestive heart failure. 2 Often the patient with UEDVT is asymptomatic or may present only with a complaint that his/her central venous access not functioning (Fig. 1). The symptoms will depend on the location of the thrombosis. A patient with UEDVT of the central veins may present with swelling and pain of the arm and neck or face, or both; fever; sepsis; or pulmonary embolus. Physical examination may show prominent superficial veins in the neck and shoulder. A patient with isolated upper-extremity peripheral venous thrombosis may present with local redness, tenderness, and increased warmth of the extremity. The swelling may only involve a portion of ABSTRACT Much attention is paid to lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis and its untoward short-and long-term sequelae. However, upper-extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) can be equally disabling and even life threatening, as in cases of superior vena cava syndrome. The mainstay of therapy for UEDVT is anticoagulation. In selected cases catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy may be needed to (1) rapidly remove the extensive thrombus, (2) reveal the underlying causative lesion, and (3) guide its appropriate treatment.Objectives: On completion of this article, the reader will (1) understand the etiology, incidence and risk of UEDVT (2) learn about the treatment options for superior vena cava syndrome (3) comprehend the treatment options for subclavian-axillary vein thrombosis. Accreditation: Tufts University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. TUSM takes full responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this continuing education activity. Credit: Tufts University School of Medicine designates this education activity for a maximum of 1.0 hour credit toward the AMA Physicians Recognition Award in category one. Each physician should claim only those hours that he/she actually spent in...