During a visit to the clinic, a patient complains that her legs feel heavy in the calf. The nurse assesses that the patient has dilated, tortuous veins apparent in her lower legs. Which condition is reflected by these findings?

Choice A reason: Deep-vein thrombophlebitis involves deep vein inflammation and clotting, causing pain, swelling, and warmth, but not typically visible dilated veins. The described tortuous veins are superficial, not deep, making this an incorrect diagnosis for the findings. Choice B reason: Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous superficial veins, often in the lower legs, causing heaviness or aching. These result from venous insufficiency, leading to blood pooling, which matches the patient’s visible veins and symptoms, making this correct. Choice C reason: Peripheral artery disease causes reduced arterial blood flow, leading to pain, pallor, or claudication, not dilated veins. The visible tortuous veins suggest a venous issue, not arterial, making this an incorrect condition for the findings. Choice D reason: Chronic lymphedema causes swelling due to lymphatic fluid accumulation, typically without dilated veins. The patient’s tortuous veins and heaviness point to venous pathology, not lymphatic, making this an incorrect diagnosis for the described symptoms.