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A 74-year-old female patient visited our department reporting unilateral painless vision reduction in her left eye noticed a few months ago. Clinical examination revealed decreased visual acuity in the left eye. Fundoscopy showed bilateral retinal venous stasis with cystoid macular edema in the affected eye, also confirmed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. OCT angiography showed no evidence of ischemia. Bilateral findings raised suspicion for a systemic underlying cause. Laboratory tests showed elevated homocysteine plasma levels. Brain MRI showed ischemic encephalopathy. Hyperhomocysteinemia creates a hypercoagulable state and therefore it is a risk factor for vascular thrombosis and retinal vein occlusion. Our patient was considered to suffer from an impending retinal vein occlusion due to venous stasis, causing a persistent macular edema, and, therefore, was treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. She was also prescribed oral folic acid for life. Her visual acuity showed improvement and remained stable for a long period of time. When macular edema reoccurred she was treated with another intravitreal injection.

Sarcoidosis is described as a state of immune-mediated chronic systemic inflammatory disease that is typically characterized by non-caseating granulomas. It involves multiple organs like the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, skin, and liver. Besides the solid organ involvement, it is also known to be associated with various pro-thrombotic states leading to pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Mechanical factors causing the venous stasis were considered the major contributing factors. However, based on recent studies, chronic inflammation from macrophages and activated leukocytes are also hypothesized to further activate thrombin and fibrin formation. Regardless of the etiology, the management focuses on life-long anticoagulation to prevent further episodes of thrombosis. Herein we present a case of a 38-year-old male with a history of sarcoidosis who was admitted after having recurrent deep vein thromboses. Further investigations revealed a negative hypercoagulable workup or other auto-immune processes and the absence of any granulomas causing mechanical compression on large vessel venous vasculature. He was adequately managed with anticoagulation therapy and followed up outpatient with no further similar episodes. This case adds to the growing understanding that the mechanisms by which sarcoidosis induces thromboembolism is primarily pro-inflammatory rather than mechanical in nature.

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is a rare clinical condition caused by extrinsic compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery, leading to venous stasis and predisposing to thrombus formation. Here, we present the case of a 39-year-old female with no obviously known other risk factors predisposing to thrombosis who presented with severe left leg pain and swelling for a week. The international normalized ratio was elevated and the venous Doppler study showed extensive thrombosis extending from the left common iliac vein to the common femoral vein and the popliteal vein. She was diagnosed with MTS and treated with catheter-directed mechanical thrombolysis and thrombectomy, along with angioplasty of the left common iliac vein and external iliac vein, with near-complete resolution post-treatment. MTS should be suspected in patients who present with unilateral limb thrombosis regardless of the presence of predisposing factors. Timely management with endovascular procedures is necessary to help prevent other potential life-threatening complications.

Chronic venous insufficiency is one of the most common benign diseases in America. For treatment, minimally invasive techniques have become the first-line option. The literature shows that these procedures are well tolerated and work effectively without leaving the patient with unaesthetic operative scars. We discuss the case of a patient who developed two right lower extremity neuromas as a rare complication following endovenous laser ablation and microphlebectomy procedures for the treatment of varicose veins. Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for the visualization and diagnosis of a neuroma and should be performed in post-phlebectomy patients with severe and persistent sensory pattern disruption as neuroma formation can lead to significant complications for the patient.

Although myiasis infestation of wounds presents with significant psychological discomfort to patients, studies have shown that it can be beneficial in the management of recalcitrant ulcers resistant to standard management. Here we report a patient with persistent ulcers unresponsive to standard management who was lost to follow-up for five months and presented with ''maggots in his wound''. This however proved beneficial to the patient as the ulcer showed healthy granulation tissue on presentation and improved healing on follow-up. Our case presents the beneficial effect of myiasis infestation in the 21st century and helps to highlight a time-tested therapy with further encouragement of the use of biotherapy (sterile maggots) for the management of recalcitrant ulcers.

Venous thrombosis is a vascular disorder which is a consequence of Virchow’s triad: hypercoagulability, venous stasis, and endothelial injury. While lower extremity deep venous thrombosis is common, upper torso thrombosis is a rare clinical condition and usually a complication of central venous catheterization or malignancy-related paraneoplastic syndromes. Herein, we present a rare case of a 64-year-old male who presented with right upper extremity and right facial swelling who was found to have a thrombus in the right internal jugular vein and right subclavian vein with no predisposing factors. He was successfully treated with anticoagulation without any complications.