title: Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, an overview.
abstract: Because clinical signs and symptoms are unreliable the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) should be objectified. Advantages and disadvantages of contrast venography, plethysmography, ultrasound techniques, fibrinogen leg scanning, computer-assisted tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and blood tests are discussed. In patients with a first event of suspected DVT non-invasive methods like serial plethysmography or ultrasound testing are sensitive and specific enough to make a treatment decision. It is safe to withhold anticoagulants if the test remains normal within 1 week. In patients with suspected recurrent DVT new non-invasive techniques are being tested, but up to now the definitive objective diagnostic test continues to be contrast venography. In first period as well as in recurrent DVT D-Dimer testing could be an additional test to exclude active thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wollersheim
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Nováková
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Heystraten
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: van Asten
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thien
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D