title: Floating thrombi: diagnosis and follow-up by duplex ultrasound.
abstract: The clinical features and evolution of floating thrombi (FT) diagnosed by duplex ultrasound were examined. In 76 consecutively diagnosed above-knee deep venous thromboses the prevalence of FT was 18%. Of 44 FT diagnosed in 39 patients, 18 (39%) were located in the common femoral, 12 (26%) in the popliteal and seven (15%) in the external iliac veins. Serial duplex examinations revealed that 31% of FT in the iliofemoral segment disappeared 33% remained unchanged and 36% adhered to the vein wall within 2 weeks following diagnosis. After 3 months, 87% of the floating segments had disappeared, irrespective of the localization or therapeutic regimen. Thirteen patients experienced pulmonary embolism before (12/13) or following (4/13) diagnosis of floating thrombosis; three of four superficial femoral vein FT embolized. Fifteen per cent of the patients with FT died during the study period and 28% of the thrombi were associated with a malignant neoplasm; the incidence of malignancy was 60% in superficial and 39% in common femoral vein FT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Echography, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afschrift
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography