Calf muscle veins have been demonstrated to be one of the most frequent areas that develop deep venous thrombosis (DVT), both as an isolated finding and in combination with proximal DVT. Calf muscle venous thrombosis (CMVT) has been shown to be more frequently associated with localized calf tenderness, and when left untreated, a proportion tend to propagate proximally and may lead to pulmonary embolism. Imaging with duplex venous scanning is fairly sensitive in the diagnosis of CMVT. Treatment recommendations for CMVT are variable with some studies showing clear clinical benefit of anticoagulation therapy and others showing no benefit.
KearonCAklEAComerotaAJ. Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: antithrombotic therapy and prevention of thrombosis, 9th ed: American college of chest physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2012;141(2 suppl):e419S–e94S.
CaggiatiABerganJJGloviczkiP. Nomenclature of the veins of the lower limbs: an international interdisciplinary consensus statement. J Vasc Surg. 2002;36(2):416–422.
4.
NicolaidesANKakkarVVFieldESRenneyJT. The origin of deep vein thrombosis: a venographic study. Br J Radiol. 1971;44(525):653–663.
5.
OhgiSTachibanaMIkebuchiMKanaokaYMaedaTMoriT. Pulmonary embolism in patients with isolated soleal vein thrombosis. Angiology. 1998;49(9):759–764.
6.
KrunesUTeubnerKKnippHHolzapfelR. Thrombosis of the muscular calf veins—reference to a syndrome which receives little attention. VASA. 1998;27(3):172–175.
7.
LabropoulosNWebbKMKangSS. Patterns and distribution of isolated calf deep vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 1999;30(5):787–791.
8.
SchwarzTLangenbergKOettlerW. Deep vein and isolated calf muscle vein thrombosis following long-haul flights: pilot study. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2002;13(8):755–757.
9.
WangCJWangJWWengLHHuangCCYuPC. Clinical significance of muscular deep-vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty. Chang Gung Med J. 2007;30(1):41–46.
10.
LautzTBAbbasFWalshSJ. Isolated gastrocnemius and soleal vein thrombosis: should these patients receive therapeutic anticoagulation?Ann Surg. 2010;251(4):735–742.
11.
GalanaudJPSevestreMAGentyC. Comparison of the clinical history of symptomatic isolated muscular calf vein thrombosis versus deep calf vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 2010;52(4):932–938, 938.e1–2.
12.
BrianSFries RichardBBhagwanS. Clinical characteristics of patients with isolated calf vein thrombosis in a large teaching hospital. Int J Vasc Med. 2011;2011:414093.
13.
YoshimuraNHoriYHoriiYTakanoTIshikawaHAoyamaH. Where is the most common site of DVT? evaluation by CT venography. Jpn J Radiol. 2012;30(5):393–397.
14.
GilletJLPerrinMRAllaertFA. Short-term and mid-term outcome of isolated symptomatic muscular calf vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 2007;46(3):513–9; discussion 519.
15.
MacdonaldPSKahnSRMillerNObrandD. Short-term natural history of isolated gastrocnemius and soleal vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 2003;37(3):523–527.
16.
GuiasBSimoniGOgerE. Calf muscle venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. J Mal Vasc. 1999;24(2):132–134.
17.
HollerwegerAMacheinerPRettenbacherTGritzmannN. Sonographic diagnosis of thrombosis of the calf muscle veins and the risk of pulmonary embolism. Ultraschall Med. 2000;21(2):66–72.
18.
KretMRLiemTKMitchell. Isolated calf musclar vein thrombosis is associated with pulmonary embolism and a high incidence of additiaonal ipsilateral and contralateral deep venous thrombosis. J Vasc Surg: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. 2013.1(1):33–38.
19.
MillerNSatinRTousignantLSheinerNM. A prospective study comparing duplex scan and venography for diagnosis of lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis. Cardiovasc Surg. 1996;4(4):505–508.
20.
SimonsGRSkiboLKPolakJFCreagerMAKlapec-FayJMGoldhaberSZ. Utility of leg ultrasonography in suspected symptomatic isolated calf deep venous thrombosis. Am J Med. 1995;99(1):43–47.
21.
SchwarzTSchmidtBBeyerJSchellongSM. Therapy of isolated calf muscle vein thrombosis with low-molecular-weight heparin. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2001;12(7):597–599.
22.
SalesCMHaqFBustamiRSunF. Management of isolated soleal and gastrocnemius vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 2010;52(5):1251–1254.
23.
SchwarzTBuschmannLBeyerJHalbritterKRastanASchellongS. Therapy of isolated calf muscle vein thrombosis: a randomized, controlled study. J Vasc Surg. 2010;52(5):1246–1250.
24.
HillSLHoltzmanGIMartinDEvansPTolerWGoadK. The origin of lower extremity deep vein thrombi in acute venous thrombosis. Am J Surg. 1997;173(6):485–490.
25.
McLaffertyRBMonetaGLPassmanMABrantBMTaylorLM,JrPorterJM. Late clinical and hemodynamic sequelae of isolated calf vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 1998;27(1):50–6; discussion 56-57.
26.
MasudaEMKesslerDMKistnerRLEklofBSatoDT. The natural history of calf vein thrombosis: lysis of thrombi and development of reflux. J Vasc Surg. 1998;28(1):67–73; discussion 73-74.
27.
LabropoulosNKangSSMansourMAGiannoukasADMoutzourosVBakerWH. Early thrombus remodelling of isolated calf deep vein thrombosis. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2002;23(4):344–348.
28.
FerraraFMeliFAmatoC. Optimal duration of treatment in surgical patients with calf venous thrombosis involving one or more veins. Angiology. 2006;57(4):418–423.
29.
BaglinTDouketisJTosettoA. Does the clinical presentation and extent of venous thrombosis predict likelihood and type of recurrence? A patient-level meta-analysis. J Thromb Haemost. 2010;8(11):2436–2442.
30.
PengasINashWReedNKumarS. Evidence for treatment of muscular vein thrombosis in orthopaedic patients. J Orthop Traumatol. 2013;14(3):159–164.
