Thrombophlebitis of the Thoracoepigastric Vein An Uncommon Benign Lesion of Undetermined Etiology

The three case histories which follow are recorded for two reasons. The first is that the condition described is likely to cause unnecessary alarm in both patient and physician. It immediately suggests cancer, while, as a matter of fact, it is both benign and transient. The second reason is that almost nothing concerning this disease has appeared in the American literature and most of the physicians and surgeons with whom it has been discussed had never even heard of it. REPORT OF CASES Case 1. —A 25-year-old white woman was seen Oct. 1, 1953, because a few days earlier, when she had attempted to turn on a light switch just out of reach, she became aware of a slightly painful area in the left inframammary region. She was inclined to attribute the discomfort to the vigorous waterskiing in which she had lately engaged. Physical examination was entirely negative except for