title: Free-floating thrombus in the femoral vein--a challenge in phlebologic diagnostics.
abstract: Although thrombophlebitis may be a complication of an incompetent great saphenous vein, it usually has a benign outcome. The risk of embolisation is present especially when ascending progression of superficial venous thrombosis extends to the femoral vein. The proximal extension of the thrombus often precedes clinically visible symptoms. Use of colour duplex sonography is superior to phlebography in assessing the saphenofemoral junction area and thrombus propagation in these cases. Our case report details the difficulties encountered in the diagnosis and therapy of a patient with a free-floating thrombus at the saphenofemoral junction.
authors.affiliation: dres.raulin@t-online.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raulin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raulin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greve
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin