A 35-year-old woman presents with a tender, cord-like palpable band on the anterolateral chest wall extending from the breast to the axilla, noticed three days after a minor chest trauma. The overlying skin is retracted. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

• A Axillary vein thrombosis
• B Mastitis with abscess formation
• C Inflammatory breast carcinoma
• D Mondor disease ✓

Explanation

Mondor disease is thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins of the breast and anterior chest wall (thoracoepigastric or lateral thoracic vein). It presents as a tender, cord-like palpable band with skin retraction. It is usually self-limiting. Inflammatory breast carcinoma would show erythema and peau d'orange without a discrete cord. Axillary vein thrombosis would cause arm edema without a palpable cutaneous cord.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 28th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.