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Cutaneous foreign body microemboli‐induced occlusive vasculopathy: A complication of illicit intravenous injection of oral opioid tablets
Author(s) -
Vu Marie,
Wisell Joshua,
Wohltmann Wendi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/cup.14039
Subject(s) - medicine , purpura (gastropod) , thrombosis , ischemia , vasculitis , foreign body , vasoconstriction , necrosis , embolism , complication , pathology , surgery , anesthesia , ecology , disease , biology
Occlusive nonvasculitic vasculopathy is a process characterized clinically by retiform purpura and potential ulceration and necrosis of affected areas, secondary to blockage of small vessels without associated inflammatory vasculitis. Intravascular injection of foreign material is known to cause distal ischemia and necrosis due to thrombosis, local vasoconstriction, or microemboli formation. A 27‐year‐old male presented with retiform purpura and worsening distal fingertip necrosis of the right upper extremity accompanied by suspicious intravascular polarizable foreign material identified on skin, muscle, and vascular biopsies. We report a case that highlights concerning complications and dermatopathologic findings of intravascular injection of oral opioid tablets.