Prognosis DVT is usually benign but can cause lethal pulmonary emboli or chronic venous insufficiency. Superficial thrombophlebitis alone, even when recurrent, causes neither of these serious complications, although nonlethal pulmonary emboli rarely originate in superficial veins. Although superficial thrombophlebitis and DVT are more common in patients with cancer, the mechanism is obscure. Most clinically recognized episodes of DVT are not associated with cancer. However, when malignancy is the only risk factor in a patient with superficial thrombophlebitis or DVT, the malignant process is almost invariably advanced.
Superficial thrombophlebitis requires no specific therapy other than relief of discomfort.
Hospitalization is unnecessary, and antibiotics are not needed. For DVT, the objectives of therapy are to prevent pulmonary embolism and chronic venous insufficiency. When acute DVT is diagnosed, the patient may be hospitalized initially. However, because of advances in heparin therapy, selected patients with DVT can be treated at home, reducing or eliminating hospitalization. Drugs such as phenylbutazone or corticosteroids are not indicated routinely, and antibiotics should be used only for a specific infection.