Diagnostic accuracy of compression ultrasonography for the detection of asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis in medical patients - The TADEUS project

We assessed the accuracy of venous compression ultrasonography (CUS) for th e detection of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in 122 consecutive patient s, with a mean age of 69 years, who were hospitalised, in an internal medic ine unit. All included patients had CUS within 48 h of admission. Twelve ou t of 17 patients with a positive CUS underwent phlebography, as the others withdrew their consent, whereas the remaining 105 patients with a negative serial CUS testing were clinically followed-up at 3 months, We found that C US had a sensitivity and a specificity of respectively 1 (95% Cl, 0.73 to 1 ) and 1 (95% Cl, 0.96 to 1) for the detection of asymptomatic deep vein thr ombosis. Kappa-coefficients for intra-observer and inter-observer agreement s were respectively 0.88 and 0.56. We concluded that venous compression ult rasonography, performed as described, fulfils requirements of a screening t est that could be available for prophylactic clinical trials or epidemiolog ical researches.