Phlebolith

Changed by Bahman Rasuli, 9 Sep 2020

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Show markup changes

Phleboliths are literally "vein stones", and represent calcification within venous structures. They are particularly common in the pelvis where they may mimic ureteric calculi, and are also encountered frequently in venous malformations. There is an association with Maffucci syndrome.

Radiographic features

Phleboliths appear as focal calcifications, often with radiolucent centers (if present, a helpful sign to distinguish them from urolithiasis). This appearance is attributed to calcification peripherally within the vessel, and is frequently seen on abdominal radiographs (66% of phleboliths ²). It can also be seen on CT provided thin sections are obtained (at 5 mm thick slices radiolucent centers will be inapparent in 99% of phleboliths ²).

Differential diagnosis

Two signs are helpful in distinguishing a ureteric calculus from a phlebolith:

comet-tail sign: favours a phlebolith
soft-tissue rim sign: favours a ureteric calculus

-<p><strong>Phleboliths</strong> are literally "vein stones", and represent calcification within venous structures. They are particularly common in the pelvis where they may mimic <a href="/articles/ureteric-calculi">ureteric calculi</a>, and are also encountered frequently in <a title="Soft tissue venous malformations" href="/articles/soft-tissue-venous-malformations">venous malformations</a>. There is an association with <a href="/articles/maffucci-syndrome">Maffucci syndrome</a>. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Phleboliths appear as focal calcifications, often with radiolucent centers (if present, a helpful sign to distinguish them from <a href="/articles/urolithiasis">urolithiasis</a>). This appearance is attributed to calcification peripherally within the vessel, and is frequently seen on abdominal radiographs (66% of phleboliths <sup>2</sup>). It can also be seen on CT provided thin sections are obtained (at 5 mm thick slices radiolucent centers will be inapparent in 99% of phleboliths <sup>2</sup>).</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Two signs are helpful in distinguishing a ureteric calculus from a phlebolith:</p><ol>
+<p><strong>Phleboliths</strong> are literally "vein stones", and represent calcification within venous structures. They are particularly common in the pelvis where they may mimic <a href="/articles/ureteric-calculi">ureteric calculi</a>, and are also encountered frequently in <a href="/articles/soft-tissue-venous-malformations">venous malformations</a>. There is an association with <a href="/articles/maffucci-syndrome">Maffucci syndrome</a>. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Phleboliths appear as focal calcifications, often with radiolucent centers (if present, a helpful sign to distinguish them from <a href="/articles/urolithiasis">urolithiasis</a>). This appearance is attributed to calcification peripherally within the vessel and is frequently seen on abdominal radiographs (66% of phleboliths <sup>2</sup>). It can also be seen on CT provided thin sections are obtained (at 5 mm thick slices radiolucent centers will be inapparent in 99% of phleboliths <sup>2</sup>).</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Two signs are helpful in distinguishing a ureteric calculus from a phlebolith:</p><ol>
~~-<a href="/articles/soft-tissue-rim-sign">soft-tissue rim sign</a>: favours a ureteric calculus</li>~~
+<a href="/articles/soft-tissue-rim-sign-ureteric-calculus">soft-tissue rim sign</a>: favours a ureteric calculus</li>

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

{"current_user":null,"inclusions":[{"imageId":533857,"studyId":10917,"caseSlug":"venous-malformation-with-phleboliths","caption":"Case 1: venous malformation","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/533857/3588402a81e9b486da3371328bc07f_big_gallery.jpg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":627692,"studyId":12799,"caseSlug":"phleboliths-1","caption":"Case 2: in left cervical region","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/627692/6dfc5c962cccb2316f5f99c0b70b42_big_gallery.jpg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_unsubstantiated"},{"imageId":382104,"studyId":9924,"caseSlug":"phleboliths","caption":"Case 3","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/382104/f969a38414a2150d501f13f54f4c859e2fc19302c039549e131844244b91ce1c_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_unsubstantiated"},{"imageId":5753510,"studyId":27535,"caseSlug":"pelvic-phleboliths","caption":"Case 4: mimicking ureteral calculi","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/5753510/eb1befa4a018b0798698fccff1f1c9_big_gallery.jpg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_unsubstantiated"},{"imageId":63570650,"studyId":141938,"caseSlug":"soft-tissue-hemangioma-foot","caption":"Case 5: soft tissue hemangioma - foot","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/63570650/cc90fe0df87f3b7d132b38ec9a196209a38176327bb477302c26d48ae000922e_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":59953852,"studyId":127984,"caseSlug":"spindle-cell-hemangiomas","caption":"Case 6: spindle-cell hemangiomas - MRI","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/59953852/9c563df0e2370b8362e37b5fdc72b67d1ec7ee0c765e20bece3ad50440961ed6_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":59954053,"studyId":127985,"caseSlug":"spindle-cell-hemangiomas","caption":"Case 6: spindle-cell hemangiomas - US","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/59954053/08e0e6a390ed73f49e5e05ada37b8d42980a4929007b886ad743e90359701c43_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"}],"ddx_inclusions":[],"lang":"us"}

Updating… Please wait.

Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

Thank you for updating your details.

Phlebolith

Updates to Article Attributes

Radiographic features

Differential diagnosis

Articles

By Section:

By System:

Cases

Radiopaedia.org