Penis & scrotum
Inflammatory
Mondor phlebitis
Authors: Alcides Chaux, M.D., Antonio L. Cubilla, M.D.
Topic Completed: 1 February 2010
Minor changes: 28 October 2020
Copyright: 2002-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Mondor phlebitis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Terminology | Epidemiology | Sites | Etiology | Clinical features | Treatment | Clinical images | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Chaux A, Cubilla AL. Mondor phlebitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/penscrotummondors.html. Accessed January 15th, 2021.
Definition / general
- Uncommon and usually transient condition presenting as a cord-like lesion of the penis (eMedicine: Superficial Thrombophlebitis [Accessed 30 March 2018])
Terminology
- Also called superficial thrombophlebitis, Mondor disease or (incorrectly) nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis
Epidemiology
- Incidence of 1% of patients at STD clinic (Sex Transm Infect 2005;81:480)
- Most frequently affects young and middle aged sexually active men
Sites
- Preferentially affects the superficial dorsal penile vein
Etiology
- Firm, subcutaneous cord-like structure(s) along dorsal shaft of penis or around coronal sulcus, due to massive thrombosis of superficial venous plexus of penis
- Causes: neoplasm, mechanical trauma during vigorous intercourse following sexual abstinence, sickle cell disease (J Am Osteopath Assoc 2003;103:102), long airline flight (Int J STD AIDS 2005;16:510), varicose vein surgery (J R Soc Med 2001;94:292) or herpes simplex infection
Clinical features
- Firm, subcutaneous cord-like structures, mostly parallel to coronal sulcus
- Foreskin and dorsal midline of penile shaft can also be affected
- Pain and tenderness in a minority of cases, especially during erection
- Almost always self limited (spontaneous regression in 4 - 8 weeks) but associated with considerable psychological stress
Treatment
- Temporary sexual abstinence
Clinical images
Images hosted on other servers:
Deep venous thrombosis
Firm, cord-like lesion
Gross description
- Firm, subcutaneous cord-like structures along dorsal shaft of penis or around coronal sulcus
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Prominent vessels with plump endothelial cells and thickened (sclerotic) blood vessel walls (mainly veins), with occasional vessel showing complete occlusion of lumen
- Perivascular inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes and plasma cells
- No evidence of lymphatic involvement
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Arteriole and venule with plump endothelial cells
Differential diagnosis
- Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa: vasculitis involving small and medium sized arteries of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue
