Buerger's disease other diagnostic studies

Biopsy is not routinely performed, however, may be carried out in patients older than 45 years presenting with nodules subcutaneously or migratory thrombophlebitis, with uncharacteristic large artery involvement and/or the presence of higher than normal anticardiolipin antibodies. Biopsy may therefore be helpful in the diagnosis of Buerger’s disease. Biopsy findings suggestive of Buerger’s disease include small and medium vessel involvement, hypercellularity with leukocytic infiltration, segmental affection, occlusion with inflammatory thrombi (may or may not be organized depending on the stage of disease), sparing of the internal elastic laminae, formation of microabscesses, and multinucleated giant cells.

Biopsy is not routinely performed, however, may be carried out in the following conditions:^[1][2][3]

• • Patients older than 45 years of age
  • Presence of nodules subcutaneously or migratory thrombophlebitis
  • Uncharacteristic large artery involvement
  • Presence of higher than normal anticardiolipin antibodies
• Biopsy findings suggestive of Buerger’s disease include:
  • Small and medium vessel involvement
  • Hypercellularity with leukocytic infiltration
  • Segmental affection
  • Normal areas between diseased areas
  • Occlusion with inflammatory thrombi
  • May or may not be organized depending on the stage of disease
  • Sparing of the internal elastic laminae
  • Formation of microabscesses
  • Presence of multinucleated giant cells

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