Evaluation of color doppler imaging in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the accuracy of Color Doppler Imaging in diagnosing deep vein thrombosis [DVT] of the lower extremities taking Venography as gold standard. Cross validation study. The study was conducted in the radiology department Combined Military Hospital Peshawar from January 2007 to August 2008. Seventy four patients suspected of having deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities were examined by Color Doppler Imaging [CDI]. But sixty nine patients underwent successful venography of the affected lower limbs and 5 patients were excluded from the study. Using venography as the reference standard fro diagnosing DVT, the sensitivity and specificity of CDI was 965 and 94.4%, respectively. Positive predictive value was found to be 98% and negative predictive value was 89.5% .Overall accuracy of the CDI was 95.6%. With meticulous technique, Color Doppler Imaging is highly accurate in diagnosing deep vein thrombosis of symptomatic lower limbs, avoiding contrast venography in most of the cases