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. 2016:20:37-40.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2015.12.031. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

Abdominal Mondor disease mimicking acute appendicitis

Myriam Schuppisser  1 , Joe Khallouf  2 , Ziad Abbassi  3 , Michel Erne  4 , Denise Vettorel  5 , Alexandre Paroz  6 , Surennaidoo P Naiken  7
Affiliations

Abdominal Mondor disease mimicking acute appendicitis

Myriam Schuppisser et al. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2016.

Abstract

Introduction: Mondor disease (MD), a superficial thrombophlebitis of the thoraco-epigastric veins and their confluents is rarely reported in the literature. The superior epigastric vein is the most affected vessel but involvement of the inferior epigastric vessels or their branches have also been described. There is no universal consensus on treatment in the literature but most authors suggest symptomatic treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Case report: We report the case of a marathon runner who presented with right iliac fossa pain mimicking the clinical symptomatology of an acute appendicitis. The history and the calculated Alvarado score were not in favor of an acute appendicitis. This situation motivated multiple investigations and we finally arrived at the diagnosis of MD.

Discussion: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common cause of surgical emergencies and one of the most frequent indications for an urgent abdominal surgical procedure around the world. In some cases, right lower quadrant pain remains unclear in spite of US, CT scan, and exclusion of urological and gynecological causes, thus we need to think of some rare pathologies like MD.

Conclusion: MD is often mentioned in the differential diagnosis of breast pathologies but rarely in abdominal pain assessment. It should be mentioned in the differential diagnosis of the right lower quadrant pain when the clinical presentation is unclear and when acute appendicitis has been excluded. Awareness of MD can avoid misdiagnosis and decrease extra costs by sparing unnecessary imaging.

Keywords: Epigastric vessels; Mondor disease; Right lower quadrant pain; Thrombophlebitis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Doppler US showing thrombophlebitis of the inferior epigastric veins superficial to the rectus abdominis muscle on the right.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Follow up US was performed 11 weeks later and showed a complete resolution of the thrombophlebitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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