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Superficial vein thrombophlebitis can be bilateral

  • 06
    Jan


    by Jans Ulin, MBBS (Medical Author)

    Superficial thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory disorder of superficial veins with coexistent venous thrombosis.

    "Thrombo" or thrombus means clot.  "Itis" means inflammation.  "Phleb" means veins. 

    Thrombo.phleb.itis translates to inflammation of a vein due to a clot. 


    Superficial vein thrombophlebitis usually affects the lower extremities, particularly the great saphenous vein (60% - 80%) or the small/short saphenous vein (10% - 20%).

    However, superficial vein thrombophlebitis can occur at other sites (10% - 20%) and is least likely to occur in a bilateral manner (5%).

    This information is from a recent publication by Czysz A and Higbee S.  The article was published in StatPearls. march 16, 2020.