Unilateral Leg Swelling: Differential Diagnostic Issue Other than Deep Vein Thrombosis

It is important to discriminate between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and conditions that mimic it. Here we report on three patients, who had unilateral leg swelling mimicking DVT. The following diagnoses were found: cellulitis and metastatic abscesses by Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, inter-muscular hematoma through femoral muscle injury, venous insufficiency caused by ureteral cancer. The cases of these various disease states serve to remind us that physicians should pay careful attention to unilateral leg swelling, when DVT has been excluded.