Dr. Filippone is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine and the director of the division of emergency ultrasound at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia.
This 47-year-old woman presents to the ED complaining of the gradual onset of pain and redness of her right calf. She denies any trauma to the area.
She has a history of chronic venous stasis of both legs, accounting for the bandaged legs. She denies fever. She has no other medical problems and smokes cigarettes, but denies alcohol or drug use.
On physical exam, the back of the calf appears red, and is tender to palpation. It feels a bit like a cord. There is no lymphadenopathy, and no findings in the thigh or groin.
What is your diagnosis, and how should this case be managed?
© 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
