Continuous wave venous Doppler examination for pretreatment diagnosis of varicose and telangiectatic veins.
BACKGROUND
Doppler examination of varicosities is an essential part of accurate venous diagnosis prior to treatment. Doppler examination is the most fundamental of diagnostic techniques and must be familiar to all dermatologic surgeons treating the venous system of the leg. Those physicians presently concentrating primarily on telangiectasia will find their ability to judge when treatment will be effective greatly enhanced by Doppler-assisted diagnosis.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the indications, basic principles, and a detailed, logical, rapid protocol for venous continuous wave Doppler examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous wave Doppler examination is a rapid, precise method to determine sources of reverse physiologic flow (reflux) prior to treatment of varicose and telangiectatic leg veins. Doppler-assisted mapping of physiologic abnormalities of the venous system should be the second step following physical examination.
Weiss
R A
RA
Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Weiss
M A
MA
D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging