A saphena varix, or saphenous varix, is a dilation of the saphenous vein at its junction with the

femoral vein In the human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the femoral sheath. It begins at the adductor hiatus (an opening in the adductor magnus muscle) as the continuation of the popliteal vein. It ends a ...

in the groin. It is a common surgical problem, and patients may present with groin swelling.

Clinical features

It displays a cough impulse and may be mistaken for a

femoral hernia Femoral hernias occur just below the inguinal ligament, when abdominal contents pass through a naturally occurring weakness in the abdominal wall called the femoral canal. Femoral hernias are a relatively uncommon type, accounting for only 3% of ...

. However it has a bluish tinge and disappears on lying down. On auscultation a venous hum may be heard. It is frequently associated with

varicose veins Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. These veins typically develop in the legs, just under the skin. Varicose veins usually cause few symptoms. However, some indiv ...

. Saphena varix can be easily diagnosed by ultrasound. Saphena varix shows flow on

duplex ultrasonography Doppler ultrasonography is medical ultrasonography that employs the Doppler effect to perform imaging of the movement of tissues and body fluids (usually blood), and their relative velocity to the probe. By calculating the frequency shift of a ...

References

*{{cite web, url=http://healthfactsreview.com/saphena-varix/, title=Saphena varix - Health Facts Review, date=5 April 2016, publisher= Medical signs