Mondor's Disease: A Rare Cause of Chest Pain in the Emergency Department.

Brett Todd,Linnea Nierenberg,Jacob Price

doi:10.7759/cureus.6917

Abstract

Thrombophlebitis of a subcutaneous vein, known as Mondor’s disease, is a rare cause of chest pain and can mimic several more life-threatening diseases. Mondor’s disease can be caused by trauma, or hypercoagulable states; however, in many cases the etiology is unknown. Mondor’s disease is usually self-limited and can be managed conservatively. In this case report, we highlight a 52-year-old male patient who presented to our emergency department with chest pain caused by Mondor’s disease mimicking a pulmonary embolism. Although a rare and benign diagnosis, Mondor’s disease should be part of the differential diagnosis of chest pain and can be made on the basis of a thorough history and physical examination alone. Recognition of Mondor’s disease could reduce costs and risks of further testing for patients presenting with chest pain.

Highlights

Chest pain presents a diagnostic challenge to the clinician with etiologies that range from life-threatening to benign [1]
We present a case of chest pain seen in our emergency department, mimicking a pulmonary embolism, that was diagnosed as Mondor’s disease
A 52-year-old African American male presented to the emergency department complaining of pleuritic, sharp pain in his right chest wall that had begun three days prior to arrival

Summary

Introduction

Chest pain presents a diagnostic challenge to the clinician with etiologies that range from life-threatening to benign [1]. Thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous veins of the chest wall, known as Mondor’s disease, is one such diagnosis. We present a case of chest pain seen in our emergency department, mimicking a pulmonary embolism, that was diagnosed as Mondor’s disease. The patient described in this case presented with symptoms classically seen in Mondor’s disease-a hard, indurated, cord-like mass that is painful upon palpation without overlying erythema [3]. A 52-year-old African American male presented to the emergency department complaining of pleuritic, sharp pain in his right chest wall that had begun three days prior to arrival. The patient was contacted two months after his emergency department visit He noted that he was still able to appreciate a firm mass in his chest wall with some reduction in size since it was first diagnosed

Discussion

Conclusions

Disclosures

UpToDate

Olfield MC

Elsahy NIM