Acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis: evaluation of underlying anatomic abnormalities by spiral CT venography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the spectrum of underlying anatomic abnormalities in iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by spiral computed tomographic (CT) venography.


METHODS
During the past 4 years, 56 patients with acute iliofemoral DVT have been evaluated by CT venography at our institution. Forty-four patients had left-sided DVT, nine had right-sided DVT, and the remaining three had DVT in both extremities. CT venography was performed with use of 2.5-3.2-mm x-ray beam collimation and a 1.25-2.0-mm reconstruction interval. Spiral scans were initiated 5 minutes after intravenous contrast medium injection. The CT venograms were correlated with catheter venograms. In addition, with use of axial sections and their three-dimensional reconstructions, including multiplanar reformation and volume rendering, the presence or absence of central obstructing lesions and their causes were evaluated.


RESULTS
Among 44 patients with left-sided DVT, 37 had significant anatomic abnormalities in their iliofemoral veins or inferior vena cava (IVC). The most common lesion was left common iliac vein compression by the right common iliac artery (n = 27; exaggerated by a bony spur in nine and associated with extrinsic compression by the left internal iliac artery in two). Of the nine patients with right-sided DVT, six had significant anatomic abnormalities including encasement or extrinsic compression of their iliac veins by various causes (n = 3) and venous stricture without extrinsic lesions (n = 3). Among three patients with DVT in both extremities, two had anatomic abnormalities in the IVC. Therefore, 45 of 56 patients had anatomic abnormalities central to the thrombosed deep veins.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients with acute iliofemoral DVT had underlying anatomic abnormalities. The presence of central stenosis or obstruction and their causes can be evaluated by spiral CT venography.
Chung
Jin Wook
JW
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea. chungjw@radcom.snu.ac.kr
Yoon
Chang Jin
CJ
Jung
Sung Il
SI
Kim
Hyo-Cheol
HC
Lee
Whal
W
Kim
Young Il
YI
Jae
Hwan Jun
HJ
Park
Jae Hyung
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D003287:Contrast Media