Key result
Venous ultrasound imaging demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 92% for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis compared to ascending contrast venography.
Why the study?
Does venous ultrasound imaging accurately diagnose suspected deep vein thrombosis compared to ascending contrast venography in patients with suspected DVT?
Observational (n=44)
Does venous ultrasound imaging accurately diagnose suspected deep vein thrombosis compared to ascending contrast venography in patients with suspected DVT?
Effect estimate: Sensitivity 95%, Specificity 92%
Venous ultrasound imaging is a highly sensitive and specific non-invasive alternative to venography for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis.
Supports ultrasound as accurate non-invasive DVT test; leaves open prospective validation in diverse cohorts.
Venous ultrasound imaging was compared with ascending contrast venography for the diagnosis of suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the femoral, popliteal and calf vein segments of 44 limbs in 44 patients. One femoral and one calf vein segment could not be imaged (1.5% of the segments examined), but during the same period venography failed in six patients because of an inability to cannulate a swollen limb. Ultrasound imaging compared with venography as a means of diagnosing DVT showed an overall sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 92%. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound imaging for the diagnosis of both femoral and popliteal vein thromboses were 100% and 97%, respectively, and for calf vein thrombosis were 85% and 83%, respectively. This study supports the recommendation that ultrasound imaging is now the investigation of choice for the diagnosis of DVT provided that the scan is performed by an experienced vascular technologist. Ultrasound imaging may also define other pathological conditions presenting in the differential diagnosis of DVT, such as superficial thrombophlebitis and Baker's cyst.
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Fletcher et al. (1990) conducted an observational in Suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (n=44). Venous ultrasound imaging vs. Ascending contrast venography was evaluated on Diagnosis of suspected deep vein thrombosis (Sensitivity 95%, Specificity 92%). Venous ultrasound imaging demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 92% for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis compared to ascending contrast venography.