[Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy in a paraneoplastic Raynaud's syndrome]

Abstract

Six months after nephrectomy for renal-cell carcinoma and during treatment with interferon-alpha and vinblastin, a 70-year-old patient developed necrotizing Raynaud's phenomenon in both hands (at first: pain, livid skin and hyperhidrosis; later: painful acral ulcers; finally: trophic changes plus almost complete impairment of mobility and fine movements in both hands). These changes persisted even after the end of chemotherapy and despite several months on aspirin, naftidrofuryl, nitrates and glucocorticoids, so that the patient's general health was seriously affected. Because repeated sympathetic blocks were efficacious for brief periods, bilateral transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy (TES) was performed. The patient became free of pain at once, the acral ulcers healed within a few weeks and he could again use his hands. Until his death from advanced metastases 10 months later the Raynaud's phenomenon did not recur. This case suggests that sympathetic vasoconstriction is apparently involved in the maintenance and progression of malignant neoplasm-associated Raynaud's phenomenon. TES is recommended as a reasonable palliative measure in patients with limited life expectancy, as long as preceding sympathetic blockage has indicated likely success and the procedure is performed under intraoperative monitoring of acral and facial skin temperature.