COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING VERSUS PHLEBOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEEP LEG AND PELVIC VEIN-THROMBOSIS

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the accuracy o f color Doppler imaging in comparison to phlebography in diagnosing ph lebothrombosis. Five hundred and twenty-six phlebographies (reference method) were compared with 526 color Doppler sonographic examinations. Thrombosis diagnosed with color Doppler imaging showed a sensitivity of 98.0% (400 of 408). In 91.6% (482 of 526) of all examinations the e xtent of the thrombosis diagnosed with phlebography could also be seen with color Doppler imaging. When the clinical situation is unclear, c olor Doppler imaging should precede phlebography. Only when findings w ith ultrasonography are questionable should phlebography definitely be considered.