ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate how much influence iliac vein compression exerts on the clinical feature of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: One hundred five cases of lower extremity DVT were enrolled. The cases were grouped by location of the thrombus, left/right and inferior vena cava, iliac vein (IV), femoral vein (FV), popliteal vein, and calf vein. The estimated frequency was calculated by means of that the numbers of each goup were divided by the group's mean of DVT risk score. The minor distance from the right iliac artery to the fifth lumbar vertebral body overlying the left iliac vein was measured in computed tomography. Correlation of the severity and the minor distance was evaluated. RESULTS: Left, right, and bilateral DVT were represented in 66, 26, and 13 cases, respectively. Estimated frequencies were 2, 6.47, 5.47, 2.08, and 0.96 in the left side and 2, 1.44, 2.5, 1.33, and 1 in the right, respectively. Statistics significance was seen at the IV and FV levels. The means of minor distances in millimeters were 4.88, 3.98, 6.13, 6.20, and 4.20 in the left and 2.50, 7.00, 5.20, 7.33, and 6.50 in the right, respectively. Significance was seen only at the IV level. DVT severity and the minor distance could not be correlated with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: We consider that May-Thurner's anatomical changes impacts the DVT prevalence only at the proximal vein. We also suggest that the compression of the left iliac vein might be a contributing factor for developing DVT but not for severity of the DVT.