De novo descending aorta thrombus in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer: A case report

Thromboembolic events in patients with cancer are frequently reported in literature and usually involve the venous circulation. De novo thrombus formation in the arterial system without any underlying atherosclerosis, dissection or aneurysm is extremely rare. We report the case of a patient with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who developed a thrombus in the descending aorta without any intervention or risk factors. The patient presented with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms. A CT scan revealed an aortic thrombus obstructing 70% of the lumen. She opted for no treatment of her thrombus and was later complicated by extensive lower limb emboli. Patients with aortic thrombosis usually present with subtle symptoms which may be underestimated by both the patient and the physician. A high index of suspicion is required for early recognition and prevention of complications.