N. Labropoulos et al., COLOR-FLOW DUPLEX SCANNING IN SUSPECTED ACUTE DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS - EXPERIENCE WITH ROUTINE USE, European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery, 9(1), 1995, pp. 49-52
Objectives: To determine the accuracy of colour flow Duplex scanning (
CFDS) in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and subsequently
to investigate it diagnostic value in patients who have normal deep ve
ins despite symptoms. Design: Prospective open clinical study. Setting
: Vascular laboratory and radiology departments of University Hospital
.Materials and Methods: In the first part 112 limbs in 103 patients, 9
4 with symptoms of acute DVT and nine with pulmonary embolism (PE) wer
e examined prospectively with CFDS and venography. Subsequently, in th
e second part, 328 legs in 304 patients were examined by CFDS alone fo
rm acute symptoms of DVT or PE. Main Results: DVT was detected in 5 li
mbs by venography: proximal DVT was seen in 23 limbs, distal DVT in 25
limbs and both proximal adn distal in seven limbs. CFDS was 100% sens
itive and 98.8% specific in detecting proximal DVT whereas its sensiti
vity and specificity was 87.5% and 98.7% for distal DVT. Positive and
negative predictive values were over 95% for both limb segments. The o
verall accuracy for the proximal DVT was 99.4% and for the distal 93.1
%. In the second part, CFDS alone detected DVT in 156 limbs (47.6%); D
VT was in the proximal segment in 82, distal segment in 61 and both in
13. In 172 limbs other causes of symptoms were identified in 34 (20%)
. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that CFDS is as accurate as venogr
aphy when used by experienced operators. The average time of examinati
ons is 15-20 minutes and compares favourably with venography. Other ca
uses of leg symptoms can also be diagnosed by CFDS in around 20% of pa
tients who are found to have normal veins.