Which of the following structures are involved in Buerger's disease?
High-Yield Explanation
Buerger's disease is a progressive non-atherosclerotic segmental inflammatory disease that most often affects small and medium-sized aeries, veins, and nerves of the upper and lower extremities. Pathologically, thrombosis occurs in small to medium-sized aeries and veins with associated dense polymorphonuclear leukocyte aggregation, microabscesses, and multinucleated giant cells. It usually affects young male smokers. Patients develop calf claudication and eventually ischemic rest pain and ulcerations on the toes, feet, or fingers. Angiography shows 'cork screw' shaped collaterals. Ref: Schwaz's Principles of Surgery, 9e, Chapter 23.