Also known as iliac vein compression syndrome, May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is a vascular condition that causes narrowing or a clot in the vein that carries blood from the left leg and pelvis back to the heart. It can cause swelling, heaviness, skin changes and pain in the left leg, and can also lead to a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). MTS is more common in women than men, and is often diagnosed in those between the ages of 20 and 50 years old.
Within the pelvis, the right iliac artery crosses with the left iliac vein. In rare cases, this artery can press up against or squeeze the left iliac vein, preventing the normal flow of blood through the vein and back to the heart. This causes the blood to pool in the legs, resulting in symptoms such as pain, throbbing, tenderness or swelling in the left leg.
In addition to a physical examination by a physician, diagnosing MTS generally involves diagnostic imaging such as CT, MRI ultrasound or venogram.
Most cases of MTS go unnoticed unless the patient has the symptoms of DVT. Once diagnosed, your doctor may start with blood thinning medications, such as anticoagulants, to break up and dissolve the clot. If this isn’t viable or does not work, several other minimally invasive approaches can be used. This includes clot-busting medications delivered via a catheter, and/or an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter that traps blood clots, preventing the clots from entering the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism.
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