Phlebolith

{{Short description|Small local calcification within a vein}}

File:Phlebolithen in skrotaler Varicocele 69M - CT - 001.jpg.]]

A phlebolith is a small local, usually rounded, calcification within a vein. These are very common in the veins of the lower part of the pelvis, and they are generally of no clinical importance. When located in the pelvis they are sometimes difficult to differentiate from kidney stones in the ureters on X-ray.{{Cite journal |date=2007-01-23 |title=Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 28th ed. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09504120710719671 |journal=Reference Reviews |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=41–42 |doi=10.1108/09504120710719671 |issn=0950-4125}}

Phleboliths in the pelvic region are present in about 44.2% of people and are more common in females (50.1%) than males (37.3%). The amount of phleboliths increases with age and they also appear more often on the left than on the right side of the pelvic region.{{Cite journal |last=Mattsson |first=Tor |date=January 1980 |title=Frequency and location of pelvic phleboliths |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0009-9260(80)80095-x |journal=Clinical Radiology |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=115–118 |doi=10.1016/s0009-9260(80)80095-x |pmid=7357820 |issn=0009-9260}} Phleboliths outside the pelvic region appear in about 2% of the population.{{Cite journal |last1=Curry |first1=Nancy S. |last2=Cleave Ham |first2=F. |last3=Schabel |first3=Stephen I. |date=January 1983 |title=Suprapelvic phleboliths: Prevalence, distribution and clinical associations |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0009-9260(83)80439-5 |journal=Clinical Radiology |volume=34 |issue=6 |pages=701–705 |doi=10.1016/s0009-9260(83)80439-5 |pmid=6673892 |issn=0009-9260}}