ABSTRACT
Myths about varicose veins and pregnancy abound and vascular specialists have done little
to educate doctors and the public about this common condition (1). Classification of
varicose veins has relied almost exclusively on their clinical presentation and on the opinion
of a surgeon to guide treatment. Until the development of duplex scanning, safe and repeated
imaging of veins was impossible and the characterization of the underlying abnormality of
venous valve reflux which causes them remained a silent contributor to their development.
