PITFALLS IN COLOR-CODED DUPLEX SONOGRAPHICAL DIAGNOSIS OF DEEP VENOUSTHROMBOSIS

Acute deep venous thromboses of the leg are apr often observed and a p otentially lethal disease due to the complication of pulmonary embolis m. It presents with a wide range of symptoms varying between distinct signs of venous obstruction and very mild congestion. Since the validi ty of the clinical examination is unreliable, imaging should always be carried out in case a suspected thrombosis. This paper describes the possibilities of continuous wave Doppler sonography, b-mode sonography , duplex sonography, and colour-coded Doppler sonography when diagnosi ng a thrombosis and focuses on the possible pitfalls of these methods. The description of general pitfalls is followed by the explanation of typical false positive and negative results due to methodological rea sons in the different regions of examination.