By Disease Name > Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Top  Previous  Next
•aka Superficial Vein Thrombosis
•= thrombosis of greater or lesser saphenous veins and their tributaries

 

etiology:

•most frequently a complication of varicose veins
•however, the disease may develop as a result of either a primary or secondary hypercoagulable state
•sometimes associated with IV catheters or infusions
•may develop in association with a DVT
•does not result in PE or chronic venous insufficiency

 

Clinically:

•reddened, warm, tender cord extending along a superficial vein
•treatment = supportive: warm compresses, leg elevation, NSAIDS for pain
•ddx:
•lymphangitis: red streaking up the limb, and tender lymph nodes proximally
•cellulitis: more diffuse involvement

histology:   inflammatory infiltrate seen throughout the vessel wall, and the vessel lumen is generally occluded

migratory Svt:

•often a marker for a carcinoma (esp. gastric)
•Trousseau’s syndrome:  when the hypercoagulable state is secondary to an underlying malignancy
•Trousseau’s sign (may precede symptoms in pancreatic CA)
•also may occur in patients with vasculitides (e.g. thromboangiitis obliterans)

 

Mondors disease:

•thrombophlebitis of the anterior chest wall; presenting as a tender or non-tender cord
•usually benign (but sometimes associated with breast CA)