Superficial Thrombophlebitis in Emergency Medicine Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Robert G Klever Jr, MD; Chief Editor: David FM Brown, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 16, 2010
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

  • Baker cyst
  • Cellulitis
  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Deep Venous Thrombosis and Thrombophlebitis
  • Hematoma
  • Lipodermatosclerosis
  • Lymphangitis
  • Lymphedema
  • Neuritis
  • Postphlebitic syndrome
  • Ruptured medial head of the gastrocnemius
  • Tendonitis
  • Thrombophlebitis, Septic
  • Varicosities
Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert G Klever Jr, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit Receiving Hospital

Robert G Klever Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Adam J Rosh, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Adam J Rosh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Samuel M Keim, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Samuel M Keim, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Eddy S Lang, MDCM, CCFP(EM), CSPQ  Associate Professor, Senior Researcher, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine; Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Canada

Eddy S Lang, MDCM, CCFP(EM), CSPQ is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

David FM Brown, MD  Associate Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Vice Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

David FM Brown, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Craig F Feied, MD, and Jonathan A Handler, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

References

  1. Verlato F, Zucchetta P, Prandoni P, et al. An unexpectedly high rate of pulmonary embolism in patients with superficial thrombophlebitis of the thigh. J Vasc Surg. Dec 1999;30(6):1113-5. [Medline].

  2. Wichers IM, Di Nisio M, Buller HR, Middeldorp S. Treatment of superficial vein thrombosis to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: a systematic review. Haematologica. May 2005;90(5):672-7. [Medline].

  3. Rosendaal FR, Helmerhorst FM, Vandenbroucke JP. Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and thrombosis. Thromb Haemost. Jul 2001;86(1):112-23. [Medline].

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  5. Gillet JL, Ffrench P, Hanss M, Allaert FA, Chleir F. [Predictive value of D-dimer assay in superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs]. J Mal Vasc. Apr 2007;32(2):90-5. [Medline].

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  7. Di Nisio M, Wichers IM, Middeldorp S. Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis of the leg. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Apr 18 2007;CD004982. [Medline].

  8. Quenet S, Laporte S, Decousus H, Leizorovicz A, Epinat M, Mismetti P. Factors predictive of venous thrombotic complications in patients with isolated superficial vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. Nov 2003;38(5):944-9. [Medline].

  9. Ascher E, Hanson JN, Salles-Cunha S, Hingorani A. Lesser saphenous vein thrombophlebitis: its natural history and implications for management. Vasc Endovascular Surg. Nov-Dec 2003;37(6):421-7. [Medline].

  10. de Godoy JM, Braile DM. Protein S deficiency in repetitive superficial thrombophlebitis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. Jan 2003;9(1):61-2. [Medline].

  11. De Maeseneer MG. Superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower limb: practical recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Acta Chir Belg. Apr 2005;105(2):145-7. [Medline].

  12. Feied CF. Pulmonary chest pain, cor pulmonale and pulmonary embolism. In: Gibler, Aufderheide, eds. Emergency Cardiac Care. Vol 1. ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1994:243-303.

  13. Feied CF. Pulmonary embolism. In: Rosen P, Barkin RM, eds. Emergency Medicine Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1998:3.

  14. Feied CF. Peripheral venous disease. In: Rosen P, Barkin RM, eds. Emergency Medicine Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1998:3.

  15. Schonauer V, Kyrle PA, Weltermann A, et al. Superficial thrombophlebitis and risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism. J Vasc Surg. Apr 2003;37(4):834-8. [Medline].

  16. Unno N, Mitsuoka H, Uchiyama T, et al. Superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs in patients with varicose veins. Surg Today. 2002;32(5):397-401. [Medline].

 
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