Gangrene - but not due to diabetic vascular disease

A 52 year old diabetic female with obstructive jaundice due to cholangiocarcinoma developed recurrent deep venous thrombosis and venous gangrene (phlegmasia caerulia dolens). Carcinomatosis is the usual underlying cause of this rare form of gangrene and has a high mortality. It is important to remember that diabetic subjects can develop ‘non‐diabetic’ gangrene, and other causes should be considered depending upon the clinical presentation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.