Serial long-term phlebography after documented lower leg thrombosis.

Representative phlebograms from a series of 38 patients (86 phlebograms) followed up from 2 weeks to 6 years after the initial thrombotic episode are presented. The veins cleared earliest and most completely in patients with thrombosis, limited to the calf. Totally occluded veins cleared more slowly and less completely than non- or partially occluded veins. Post-thrombotic restoration of normal venous and valvular structures was commonly seen. The authors describe a phlebographic pattern which corresponds to previously documented pathological material, illustrating intimal thickening as a sequel to organization of thrombi onto the walls of the veins.