title: The radiological investigation of suspected lower limb deep vein thrombosis.
abstract: A postal survey was performed to determine the current practices and attitudes of radiologists towards the imaging of suspected lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). One hundred and twenty-seven departments responded to a questionnaire sent in March 1996. The results show that 87% of hospitals possess colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) machines and that 46% of departments perform ultrasound as the first line investigation in over 90% of cases. Thirty per cent of departments considered calf vein visualization to be generally adequate and 34% thought that clinicians in their hospitals invariably anticoagulated patients with isolated calf thrombus. In hospitals where venography was routinely used as the first line investigation, the most common reasons were: the perceived inferiority of ultrasound (US) in demonstrating below-knee clot, its time-consuming nature and the limited access to suitable ultrasound machines. The widespread use of ultrasound is encouraging, however, there are clearly diverse views. A significant minority of departments depend principally upon venography in the diagnosis of DVT.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Burn
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Blunt
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Sansom
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Phelan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011859:Radiography; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom