Pseudophlebitis of the lower limbs. A critical study from 102 suspected cases of deep venous thrombosis]

Clinical diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis appears as uneasy, because of inconstant and non-specific symptoms. When studying a phlebitis, the risk to diagnose venous thrombosis is over 50 p. 100. This review of 102 patients, supposed to present with phlebitis, confirms such data. The diagnosis reliability depends mainly on the physician's experience. Examination and clinical research, combined with Doppler data make possible to perform a good diagnosis in 4 cases out of 5. However, in 20 p. 100, phlebography is strongly required, appearing as an essential examination. Analysis of epidemiologic and clinical data demonstrates the importance of certain data as for the diagnosis: female sex, age superior to 60 years, existence of two antecedents and/or a cardiopathy, a complex clinical picture might demonstrate a diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. Post-phlebitic syndrome and skin infectious pathologies are the main pseudophlebitis etiologies. Popliteal cyst (often mentioned in English literature as a pseudophlebitis factor) is diagnosed in 11 p. 100 of cases.