Which condition is characterized by swelling, tenderness, and erythema in the arm following chemotherapy administration through a PICC line?

The condition characterized by swelling, tenderness, and erythema in the arm following chemotherapy administration through a PICC line is predominantly associated with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). When chemotherapy is administered, especially through a central line like a PICC, there is a risk of thrombus formation in the veins. Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms and obstructs blood flow, leading to inflammation of the vessel wall (thrombophlebitis).

In the case of DVT, the typical symptoms include unilateral swelling of the arm, along with pain, tenderness, and signs of inflammation like erythema. The mechanism here involves the irritation of the vascular endothelium from the chemotherapy agents and possibly from the catheter itself, predisposing the patient to blood clot formation.

While infection and cellulitis can also present with similar symptoms such as redness and swelling, they would typically be associated with systemic signs of infection or localized abscess formation, which are not as directly connected to the PICC line administration as DVT. This specificity in symptom presentation primarily leads to the conclusion that DVT is the correct diagnosis in this context.