Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 17, Issue 11 693-696, Copyright © 1998 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis in cancer patients: correlation of presenting symptoms with venous sonographic findings
P. A. Loud and D. L. Klippenstein
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
We sought to determine how rates of sonographically detected deep venous
thrombosis correlate with presenting symptoms in cancer patients. We
performed venous sonography in 588 cancer patients with clinically
suspected lower extremity deep venous thrombosis. Results were correlated
with clinical findings. Deep venous thrombosis was diagnosed in 32% of
patients with unilateral lower extremity symptoms and in 17% of patients
with bilateral symptoms. Patients with unilateral symptoms of pain and
swelling, swelling alone, or pain alone had significantly different rates
of deep venous thrombosis (47%, 31%, and 16%, respectively). In patients
with bilateral leg symptoms, deep venous thrombosis was significantly more
likely when symptoms were not bilaterally symmetric.
