Phlebitis migrans (synonyms: thrombophlebitis migrans, phlebitis saltans, thrombophlebitis saltans; ICD-10 I82.1: thrombophlebitis migrans) is an episodic thrombophlebitis (superficial inflammation of superficial veins) that affects adjacent sections with a time delay (migratory phlebitis).
Phlebitis migrans can be a symptom of many different serious diseases, such as bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer), pancreatic carcinoma (cancer of the pancreas), or leukemia. Phlebitis migrans can also accompany viral or bacterial infections.
Often, this form of thrombophlebitis is found in thrombangiitis obliterans (synonyms: endarteritis obliterans, Winiwarter-Buerger disease, Von Winiwarter-Buerger disease, thrombangitis obliterans; vasculitis (vascular disease) associated with recurrent (recurring) arterial and venous thrombosis (blood clot (thrombus) in a blood vessel); symptoms: Exercise-induced pain, acrocyanosis (blue discoloration of body appendages), and trophic disturbances, e.g. e.g., necrosis/tissue death). Up to 62% of these patients suffer from phlebitis migrans.
The cause is usually not identifiable (idiopathic).
Sex ratio: Men are more commonly affected than women.
Frequency peak: The disease occurs predominantly in middle age.
Course and prognosis: Phlebitis migrans occurs preferentially on the outside of the legs and less commonly on the arms or trunk. It spreads continuously. The inflammations affect short areas of the veins and subside after a few days, only to recur in the same form at another site. The focus is on treatment of the underlying disease.
