Diagnostic accuracy of compression ultrasonography for the detection of asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis in medical patients--the TADEUS project.
We assessed the accuracy of venous compression ultrasonography (CUS) for the detection of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in 122 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 69 years, who were hospitalised in an internal medicine unit. All included patients had CUS within 48 h of admission. Twelve out of 17 patients with a positive CUS underwent phlebography, as the others withdrew their consent, whereas the remaining 105 patients with a negative serial CUS testing were clinically followed-up at 3 months. We found that CUS had a sensitivity and a specificity of respectively 1 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1) and 1 (95% CI, 0.96 to 1) for the detection of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis. Kappa-coefficients for intra-observer and inter-observer agreements were respectively 0.88 and 0.56. We concluded that venous compression ultrasonography, performed as described, fulfils requirements of a screening test that could be available for prophylactic clinical trials or epidemiological researches.
Bressollette
L
L
Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Hĵpital de la Cavale Blanche, Brest, France.
Nonent
M
M
Oger
E
E
Garcia
J F
JF
Larroche
P
P
Guias
B
B
Scarabin
P Y
PY
Mottier
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010690:Phlebography / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*