A new scoring system for the detailed description of the distribution and thrombotic burden in deep leg vein thrombosis

The scoring system most commonly used to date to describe the thrombotic bu rden of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) excludes several deep vein segments and is thereby of limited use in research. The aim of this prospective, compara tive study was to develop a new scoring and distribution system that would include all major deep veins of the leg and pelvis. In total, 247 consecuti ve patients were included, of whom 105 had a positive phlebography. The pos itive phlebographies were registered in the new system and the result was c ompared with that obtained by the Marder system. In 72% (76/105) of the patients the DVT distribution was not completely des cribed and the thrombotic burden was significantly underestimated by the Ma rder system. Of these, 12% (13/105) were not scored at all, thus representi ng false-negative investigations. It was possible to score all DVTs and imp ortant vein segments of these patients with the new system. The scoring sys tem previously used excludes several deep vein segments. A description of t he important vein segments, where DVT is shown to originate and propagate, is mandatory in a scoring system designed for the purpose of research of DV T and later detected deep vein insufficiency. The new system meets this dem and.