Radiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sheiman, R. G.
Right arrow Articles by McArdle, C. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sheiman, R. G.
Right arrow Articles by McArdle, C. R.

Radiology, Vol 196, 379-381, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Bilateral lower extremity US in the patient with bilateral symptoms of deep venous thrombosis: assessment of need

RG Sheiman, JL Weintraub and CR McArdle
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) detected with ultrasound (US) in patients with bilateral symptoms suggestive of DVT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with bilateral lower extremity symptoms suggestive of DVT were examined prospectively for predisposing factors and type of symptoms. Charts were reviewed for previous lower extremity disease or chronic illness that could explain the patient's symptoms. The frequency of DVT diagnosed with US in this patient group was determined. RESULTS: No DVT was identified in the patients with bilateral symptoms suggestive of DVT. Retrospective review demonstrated that 34 (68%) of the patients had a preexisting condition (cardiac disease, venous insufficiency, chronic swelling, cellulitis or thrombophlebitis, peripheral arterial disease). Because compression US has a greater than 90% sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of DVT, these results were statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The likelihood of DVT in patients with bilateral lower extremity symptoms is extremely low. Alternative causes should be carefully explored before lower extremity US is considered.




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
RADIOLOGY RADIOGRAPHICS RSNA JOURNALS ONLINE
Copyright © 1995 by the Radiological Society of North America.