Ancient history

After a 48-year-old man noted the gradual onset of painless swelling of the entire left lower extremity over a period of several weeks, he went to the surgery outpatient clinic of a local trauma center. He stated that the significant swelling of the left lower extremity made it feel “heavy” and that he was having difficulty walking. He denied any recent prolonged history of immobility or trauma to the left lower extremity. In addition, he denied any history of deep venous thrombosis or surgery on the trunk or left lower extremity. On further questioning, he remembered that he had been a victim of a gunshot wound to the left groin in Mexico 26 years earlier. He was certain that he did not have surgery after this injury