Femoral vein duplication: incidence and potential significance.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of femoral vein duplication and the incidence of bilateral anomalies in a normal cohort of patients presenting with varicose veins.


METHODS
Two hundred and forty patients underwent bilateral lower limb deep venous ultrasound examination with particular attention to the femoropopliteal segment.


RESULTS
The incidence of femoral vein duplication was 41%. Of the 140 people with femoral vein duplications, 60 (42%) were bilateral and 80 (57%) were unilateral.


CONCLUSIONS
Femoral vein duplication is a common anatomical variant of the lower limb deep venous system. Ultrasound in skilled and experienced hands with the latest ultrasound units can readily demonstrate this venous anomaly on a consistent basis.
Paraskevas
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Vein Health Medical Clinic, Suite 18, Level 1, 28-32 Arnold Street, Box Hill, Victoria 3128, Australia. drparaskevas@veinhealth.com.au
D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology