Diagnosis of Recurrent Deep Venous Thrombosis Using B-Mode Ultrasonic Imaging

Accurate diagnosis of recurrent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with postphlebitic syndrome or a history of previous DVT can be extremely difficult. Real-time B-mode ultrasonic imaging (UI) was compared to ascending contrast venography (ACV) in a prospective study of 38 limbs with suspected recurrent DVT to determine if UI could reliably detect recurrent thrombosis. Six limbs had normal deep veins and 32 had evidence of previous DVT by both techniques. Acute thrombus was diagnosed by both UI and ACV in 9 limbs and by UI alone in an additional three limbs. New thrombus was found in 13 popliteal-proximal and 10 calf veins by UI; while ACV detected 12 popliteal-proximal and five new calf vein thromboses. UI is comparable to ACV in detecting recurrent thrombosis and may be particularly useful in assessing the calf veins.