“Vein Condition May Mask Serious Clot Disorder”
Superficial vein thrombosis (or varicose veins that have become swollen and painful) may herald the presence of a more dangerous problem. One-quarter of patients with superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) in an Austrian study had deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially life-threatening condition. "The diagnosis of [SVT] has long been considered to be a benign entity which could be managed in the doctor's office [but] in fact may be the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Robert Lookstein, an associate professor of radiology and surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "I think it's a good idea for anybody with [superficial vein thrombosis] to undergo routine ultrasound screening of the deep veins of their legs to exclude this very, very serious diagnosis." Read More