Superficial thrombophlebitis, also called superficial venous thrombosis (SVT), is a pathological condition characterised by the presence of a thrombus in the lumen of a superficial vein, accompanied by inflammatory reaction of adjacent tissues.
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Terminology
Some authors, however, reserve the term superficial venous thrombosis to the situation when there is thrombosis of a superficial vein without any associated inflammatory component 3.
Clinical presentation
Typically presentations include:
- tender erythematous areas overlying a superficial vein
- may be warm to touch
- there may be palpable mass and surrounding oedema
- visible distension of the vein proximal to the thrombosis
- there may be signs of chronic venous disease: visible varicosities, skin pigmentation, or palpable cords
Pathology
Like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), its occurrence is also related to Virchow triad.
Aetiology
There are a large number of potential causes which does overlap with the causes of DVT 4:
-
varicose veins (most common)
- morphological changes that predispose to stasis and consequently to the development of thrombotic process
- prolonged immobilisation
- surgery/trauma
- obesity
- hypercoagulable states, e.g. factor V Leiden thrombophilia 5
- oral contraceptive use
- past history SVT or DVT
- intravenous cannula use
- malignancies (see: Trousseau syndrome)
- autoimmune disease
- inflammatory conditions, in particular, Behcet disease and Buerger disease
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