Although thrombophlebitis may be a complication of an incompetent great sap
henous vein, it usually has a benign outcome. The risk of embolisation is p
resent especially when ascending progression of superficial venous thrombos
is extends to the femoral vein. The proximal extension of the thrombus ofte
n precedes clinically visible symptoms. Use of colour duplex sonography is
superior to phlebography in assessing the saphenofemoral junction area and
thrombus propagation in these cases. Our case report details the difficulti
es encountered in the diagnosis and therapy of a patient with a free-floati
ng thrombus at the saphenofemoral junction.