Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 13, Issue 2 115-118, Copyright © 1994 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Bilateral lower extremity evaluation of deep venous thrombosis with color flow and compression sonography
M. T. Keogan, E. K. Paulson, S. S. Paine, B. S. Hertzberg and B. A. Carroll
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Recognition of the accuracy of CUS for diagnosis of DVT has led to
increased requests for bilateral lower extremity CUS studies. Compared to
unilateral lower limb CUS studies, these examinations are often requested
when the clinical suspicion of DVT is less strong. We undertook a 15 month
prospective study of bilateral lower extremity CUS examinations to
determine the diagnostic yield of positive studies and any correlation with
clinical parameters. Eighty-six patients were studied; six patients (7%)
had studies positive for acute DVT, and 78 patients (91%) had negative
studies. Positive studies did not correlate with clinical parameters except
erythema. Concurrently, 23% of unilateral lower limb sonographic studies
were positive. Bilateral lower limb CUS is a low yield investigation, which
may be indicated in view of the morbidity and mortality associated with DVT
and pulmonary embolism.
