Unusual causes of calf swelling--2. Rhabdomyolysis mimicking deep vein thrombosis.

A 55 year old woman with pain and swelling of the leg was heparinized on the basis of a clinically diagnosed ilio-femoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Subsequent investigation showed her to have extensive rhabdomyolysis of the leg. Rhabdomyolysis can mimic the appearance of deep vein thrombosis and this case further illustrates the importance of venography in the assessment of the swollen leg.