Mondor's disease.
BACKGROUND
Mondor's disease is a rare entity characterized by thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous veins of the anterolateral thoraco-abdominal wall. The most common clinical manifestations are a painful subcutaneous cord, sensation of tension, and skin retraction. This condition is usually a benign and self-limited process, although it has been associated with breast cancer.


METHODS
We describe four new cases, two men and two women, and comment on the clinical signs and possible etiopathogenic features. General physical examination, radiologic and ecographic studies, laboratory analysis including tumor markers, and exhaustive coagulation study were carried out on all patients.


RESULTS
No cases were associated with malignant disease and/or hypercoagulability stage. With conservative treatment, the evolution proved favorable in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Mondor's disease is usually a benign and self-limited process, but we recommend laboratory studies and physical examination, including mammography in women, in order to rule out the presence of systemic disorders, especially breast cancer.
Mayor
M
M
Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Burón
I
I
de Mora
J C
JC
Lázaro
T E
TE
Hernández-Cano
N
N
Rubio
F A
FA
Casado
M
M
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000473:pathology*; D014680:Veins