title: Tumors associated with superficial thrombophlebitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the incidence of malignant tumors in patients with thrombophlebitis of the leg with regard to potential early tumor detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  140 consecutive patients were enrolled over a period of over 9 years in a retrospective follow-up study based on the electronic patient record.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 18 patients (12.9%) suffering from thrombophlebitis in association with a malignant tumor: breast cancer in seven patients, colon carcinoma and haematologic cancer in four, skin cancer in three patients and one case each of oesophageal, prostatic, kidney and neck cancer . In two patients thrombophlebitis preceded the diagnosis of the malignancy. Superficial thrombophlebitis may have been associated in four cases (2.9%) with a benign tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast, colonic, haematological and skin cancer were mainly associated with superficial thrombophlebitis in our patients. In case of a thrombophlebitis without a known malignancy a thorough clinical examination with special regard to skin, breast and abdomen is mandatory.
authors: Department of Surgery, Spital Thun, Thun, Switzerland. wolfgang.mouton@spitalthun.ch
authors: W G
authors: WG
authors: Mouton
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Kienle
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Muggli
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Naef
authors: H E
authors: HE
authors: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology