THROMBOPHLEBITIS AND PSEUDOTHROMBOPHLEBITIS IN THE ED

The patient presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a painful swollen lower extremity is considered to have deep venous thrombosis (DVT) until this diagnosis can be ruled out. This clinical presentatio n, however, is far from specific and the differential diagnosis includ es symptomatic Baker's cyst, also known as pseudothrombophlebitis synd rome (PTP), This article presents two cases of PTP and reviews the lit erature relevant to diagnosis of DVT and PTP, Ultrasonography is now t he diagnostic test of choice for both DVT and PTP, being safe, accurat e, noninvasive, and rapid, and should ideally be available for use in the ED. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.