Mondor’s Condition (Chest Vein Inflammation)
These refer to the uncommon, post operative condition whereby a patient develops cords or bands beneath the breast at the incision site. These cords are initially red and tender, but will eventually soften and disappear after several weeks, the patient illustrated here is 7 days post operation. The cords are more noticeable and tender when a patient raises her arms. Although it is distressing to patients, it is a self-limiting, benign condition.
The condition is caused by inflammation of the superficial veins around the breast. Treatment consists of a short course of anti-inflammatories, such as Tylenol or Motrin.
