Utility of abdominal sonography in patients with idiopathic deep vein thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have confirmed an association between idiopathic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and malignant tumors. We assessed the usefulness of routine abdominal sonography in patients with idiopathic DVT to detect malignant tumors and other relevant findings.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed abdominal sonograms and records from 135 consecutive patients with confirmed idiopathic DVT and interviewed patients and their physicians during the follow-up period (mean, 30 months). Malignancy and other clinically relevant findings determined by sonography were tabulated, and the cost of each malignancy detected by abdominal sonography in this study was calculated.


RESULTS
Malignant tumors were found in 14 patients (10%), 7 by routine abdominal sonography, 3 by other means during hospitalization, and 4 during the follow-up period. Other clinically relevant findings detected by routine abdominal sonography were found in 33 patients (24%). The estimated cost of discovering malignancy by using screening abdominal sonography was approximately US$3,000/malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal sonography was useful in detecting a variety of clinically relevant findings in addition to half of the malignant tumors found in our study.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology