Management of the marginal vein: current issues.

The marginal vein, an abnormal superficial vein of the lateral lower limb, is a remnant of primitive embryonic vessels that have failed to regress. According to the extent, topography and sites of connection with the deep veins, five types have been distinguished by Weber. The marginal vein is valveless and may create venous stasis. Limb-length discrepancy and nevus may coexist. Diagnosis is made by duplex scan examination and phlebography; angio computerized tomography or magnetic resonance effectively demonstrates the vein but yield less haemodynamic data. The best treatment is complete surgical resection of the vein. Resection should be avoided in the rare cases when aplasia of the deep veins exists. A careful skeletonization can be performed if arterio-venous fistulas converge into the vein.