Trunk varicose veins

Also called truncal varicose veins. These are varicose veins of the trunk veins (great saphenous vein and/or small saphenous vein) in the leg. Varicose veins develop when there are incompetent (leaky) valves in the trunk veins, allowing some of the blood to flow in the opposite direction (to the feet) and pool in the leg veins. Different stages of disease can be identified on the basis of the extent of the reflux, which the doctor can establish when the patient is standing up (backwards flow to only just below the SFJ, to just above the knee, to below the knee, or down to the ankle).