Mondor's cords, also known as Mondor's disease, are superficial veins that become inflamed during and after surgery. They typically appear as 3-4 vertical bands and can be observed extending from the lower breast to the lower chest area.
It's caused by inflammation of a vein (thrombophlebitis) just under the skin of the breast or chest wall. This usually looks like a narrow cord just under the skin below the breast, which may feel like a piece of string under the skin.
The problem is self-limited and will spontaneously resolve in several weeks to a few months (see example below shown at 2, 3 and 12 weeks after surgery).
They can occur a couple of weeks after breast augmentation surgery and they look like vertical bands below the breast, running towards the abdomen. They aren't painful, but can sometimes feel uncomfortable to tender to touch. The cords are harmless and temporary.
[3] Although Mondor's disease classically affects the inframammary region, a similar condition has been reported in the axilla and penis as well. [4–5] Management is usually expectant with most reports suggesting warm compresses, time, and nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory medications.
Cording usually gets better slowly over a few months. But it can take longer. Sometimes it can come back, but this is rare. If the cording continues, you may be able to have surgery to improve symptoms.
Thrombophlebitis can be an important warning sign of much more serious conditions. While it isn't usually dangerous on its own, you need to see a medical professional to determine if you have a problem. You might also need to seek emergency care immediately with certain symptoms.
How is cording treated? Cording treatment typically involves physical therapy. During treatment, your physical therapist manually stretches and breaks up the scar tissue in your underarm. This allows your body to reabsorb the tissue.
Traumatic funicular phlebitis may be difficult to distinguished from and may resemble Mondor disease. Similarly, Mondor disease may be associated rarely with abdominal pain that can mimic acute appendicitis. Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis may also be considered.
How is Penile Mondor's Disease treated? Fortunately, PMD often goes away on its own without treatment. Nevertheless, it is recommended that PMD patients refrain from sexual activity until their symptoms subside.
The duration of seroma swelling also varies. Small seromas may resolve within a few weeks as the body reabsorbs the fluid. Larger or more persistent seromas may take longer to resolve and may require intervention by your surgeon.
Fibrocystic breasts are composed of tissue that feels lumpy or ropelike in texture. Doctors call this nodular or glandular breast tissue. It's not at all uncommon to have fibrocystic breasts or experience fibrocystic breast changes.
When injured, tissue usually seals bleeding vessels and sticks together in the first two to 48 hours. It then knits together, and collagen builds over the next two days to six weeks. Collagen tightens as healing fibers called myofibroblasts pull together, making the tissue hard and lumpy within six weeks to six months.
The good news is these cords usually resolve on their own, sometimes in a matter of weeks; occasionally, they will linger for months.
The signs and symptoms of a DVT may include but are not limited to:
Treatments. Your urologist may prescribe a prescription topical (applied directly to the skin) cream to help reduce the symptoms. These creams may include medicines such as heparin and anti-inflammatory medicines. You may need to abstain from all sexual activity while undergoing treatment for PMD.
Overview. Thrombophlebitis is a condition that causes a blood clot to form and block one or more veins, often in the legs. In superficial thrombophlebitis, the vein is near the surface of the skin. In deep vein thrombosis or DVT, the vein is deep within a muscle.
Migratory superficial thrombophlebitis is known as Trousseau's syndrome, which can be an early sign of cancer. When it (rarely) occurs on the breast or anterior chest wall it has been called Mondor's disease. It sometimes occurs in the arm or penis. In axilla, this condition is known as axillary web syndrome.
The disease may have been caused by trauma, other hypercoagulable states, or underlying breast diseases such as infection or carcinoma breast, but, in most cases, its etiology remains unknown. Mondor's disease is usually self-limited and can be managed conservatively.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Also known as deep belly breathing, diaphragmatic breathing is vital for assisting the movement of lymphatic fluid. This breathing technique involves inhaling deeply through the nose, allowing the diaphragm to contract and the abdomen to expand, followed by exhaling slowly.
Caused by hardened lymph vessels, cording feels like a tight cord running from your armpit down the inside of the arm, sometimes to the palm of your hand. You may see and feel raised cord-like structures across your arm, chest or breast, which may limit how you move.
Cording can occur within days or weeks of surgery, and sometimes even years later. It most often occurs within 2 to 8 weeks after surgery in anywhere from 6- 86% of patients.
sudden swelling in your leg, arm or neck. warm skin around the painful area. red or darkened skin around the painful area. swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical assistance immediately, since it can progress to a more serious illness. If left untreated, superficial thrombophlebitis can develop into a life-threatening deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
This condition is in contrast to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which affects veins deep in the body. While a DVT can travel through the bloodstream to the heart, lungs, or brain and cause a stroke or Pulmonary Embolism, superficial thrombophlebitis usually will not do this, although it can be painful.