The Availability of Computed Tomography for the Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Computed-tomography (CT) is known as a useful modality to diagnose the occurrence and extent of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the existence of pulmonary embolism (PE). This article will focus on the availability of DVT-CT at Kyungpook National University Hospital. METHOD: From 1994 to 2006, 403 DVT patients were documented for the extent of thrombus and the existence of PE. DVT-CTs, according to our protocol, were obtained for 136 patients; there were 112 CT scans taken that were limited to the abdomen and lower extremity, and 47 patients underwent only chest CT to diagnose PE. Other modalities such as duplex scan and venography for DVT and lung scan for PE were also performed for 155 patients. RESULT: The patients in the CT group (248 patients) demonstrated that the extent of the thrombus was in the inferior vena cava (IVC) in 38 (16%), the iliac veins (IVs) in 98 (40%), the femoral veins (FVs) in 73 (29%), the popliteal veins (PVs) in 3 (1%), and the mesenteric veins in 24 (10%). For the group that underwent venography or duplex scanning (155 patients), the extent of thrombus was in the IVC in 4 (3%), the IVs in 47 (30%), the FVs in 73 (47%), and the PVs in 21 (14%). For the 136 patients who underwent DVT-CTs, 38 (28%) cases had PE. The DVT-CT and lung scan were in agreement for all the 12 cases who underwent both two tests. CONCLUSION: In the present study, DVT-CT accurately revealed the extent of DVT and it is a useful tool for making the diagnosis of PE.