Foam-Based Venous Occlusion: Historical and International Terminology, a Narrative Review - DATA SET

This dataset systematically compiles terminology used to describe foam-based endovenous interventions for superficial venous disease, with a focus on truncal vein occlusion. It was developed as part of a targeted narrative review conducted in accordance with the PRIOR Guidelines framework for narrative reviews.
Each row in the dataset represents a unique term or acronym identified in the literature. The dataset is structured using five key variables: (1) Term/Acronym, referring to the exact wording used in the source (e.g., UGFS, PEM, ENOF); (2) Full Name or Meaning, capturing the expanded definition or conceptual interpretation of the term; (3) Language (Region), indicating the primary language of publication and, when relevant, its geographic context (e.g., English—international, Spanish—Latin America/Spain); (4) Context of Use, describing whether the term refers to truncal endovenous occlusion, cosmetic sclerotherapy, investigational therapy, or regulatory terminology; and (5) Period Used, reflecting the approximate timeframe in which the term appeared or was predominantly used in the literature.
Sources contributing to the dataset were identified through structured searches of major bibliographic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science), supplemented by open-access materials and reference tracing of historical publications, clinical guidelines, and consensus statements. Eligible sources span publications from 1944 to 2025 in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.
The dataset captures the historical evolution of nomenclature, from early descriptive terms such as “air-block” and “foam injection,” to the widespread adoption of “foam sclerotherapy” and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS), and the more recent introduction of Endoluminal Occlusion Foam (ENOF) in Spanish-language literature. It also documents inconsistencies in terminology such as the variable use of PEM versus PEMF.
This dataset enables transparent tracking of terminology trends and supports efforts toward international nomenclature harmonization in foam-based venous interventions.